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BIBLICAL HISTORY 



FAMILIARIZED BY QUESTIONS. 



BY 

ANN A. TOWNSEND. 



"And thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children, and shalfc 
talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou liest 
down, and when thou risest up." — Deut. vi. 7. 



SECOND EDITION. 

PRIMED FOR 

THE BOOK ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS. 

BY 

T. ELLWOOD ZELL, 

Nos. 17 & 19 South Sixth Street, 

PHILADELPHIA. 

1869. 



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PREFACE. 



This book has been compiled with the 
view to supply a want often expressed to 
the writer, by young mothers and instructors 
of children, and with the desire to infuse and 
Btrengthen in the youthful mind a love for 

the Truth. 

The Scriptures bear an invaluable testi- 
mony to the infinite mercy and goodness of 
God, in His gracious dealings with the chil- 
dren of men; and an acquaintance with them 
is often a source of comfort and encourage- 
ment to the young as well as the old. 

The opinion which is now generally re- 
ceived by scientific men, that the creation 
of the world must have embraced a much 
greater period than six of our days, has not 
been alluded to in the history. A geological 
explanation has been left to the discretion 

of parents and teachers. 

(iii) 



IV PREFACE. 

Hugh Miller, in his admirable woik en- 
titled "The Testimony of the Bocks/' re- 
marks, that " The days of the Mosaic creation 
may be regarded, without doing violence to 
the genius of the Hebrew language, as suc- 
cessive periods of great extent." 

It was impracticable, in so small a volume, 
to notice all the interesting events recorded 
of the prominent characters which have 
been reviewed; therefore the history of the 
Israelites, after the death of Moses, except 
as casually mentioned in the life of David, 
has been omitted. 

For the same reason, the various feasts, 
offerings, and sacrifices, instituted by the Jew- 
ish lawgiver, have not been enumerated. 

Should this volume answer the purpose 
intended, it may be followed by a similar 
one, embracing parts of the New Testament. 

A. A. T. 



INTRODUCTION. 



" The Bible " is the appellation gh en to the 
Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. 

"Bible" is a Greek word which signifies 
book. The word "Testament" means will; 
but as used in reference to the sacred writings, 
it implies covenant, compact, or agreement. 
The "Old Testament" denotes the Books 
containing the records of the dispensations 
of Jehovah to his people, under the Mosaic 
or Jewish law. The New Covenant, or "Tes- 
tament," contains the record of the Christian 
dispensation as introduced by the coming of 
the promised Messiah, in which " old things 
were to be done away, and all things to be- 
come new." 

It is not certainly known at what time, or 
by whom, these terms were first used to 
designate the two divisions of the Scriptures. 

The order of the English Bible is taken 
from the Greek Septuagint. The Books 
originally were not divided into chapters 

(T) 



VI INTRODUCTION. 

and verses. These divisions, though of com- 
parative recent origin, have not, in many 
instances, been made judiciously, — the sense 
being often interrupted by the close of a 
chapter, and still oftener by a break in the 
verses. Imperfect as the arrangement is, it 
seems necessary to retain it, on account of 
the convenience of reference. 

The first English translation of the Bible 
was made about the year 1290, but by whom 
is unknown. 

About the year 1380, John Wickliffe trans- 
lated the entire Bible into English, from the 
Latin. Before the invention of printing, 
the great labor and expense of transcribing 
books prevented an extensive circulation of 
the Scriptures, but the translation of Wick- 
liffe is said to have produced a great effect 
upon the public mind. It was considered so 
dangerous to the Eomish religion, that there 
was an effort made to suppress it, by intro- 
ducing a bill into the House of Lords for that 
purpose. 

The bill was rejected; after which Wick- 
liffe published a more correct translation. 

At an assemblage held at Oxford, in the 
year 1408, it was made a punishable offence 
for any one to "translate any text of Scrip- 
ture into English, by way of a book, or a 



INTRODUCTION. Vll 

little book or tract, and that no book of this 
kind should be read that was composed in 
the time of John Wickliffe, or since his 
death." This led to great persecution; — 
many persons were punished severely, and 
some suffered death for reading the Bible in 
English. 

The first printed translation was by Wil- 
liam Tindal. So great was the opposition to 
this work, that the bishop of London endeav- 
ored to buy up the whole of the editions as 
fast as they were printed, in order to burn 
them. 

The first complete English Bible was trans- 
lated and printed in folio, by Miles Coverdale, 
in the year 1535. This was the first trans- 
lation allowed by royal authority. Several 
editions and translations w T ere made in suc- 
ceeding years, with various degrees of cor- 
rectness, but in 1611 the one now in common 
use was authorized by James I., king of 
England. He selected a company of fifty- 
four men, eminent for their piety and distin- 
guished for their knowledge of the original 
languages; but before they commenced the 
w^ork, seven of them had either died or de- 
clined engaging in it, so that it was accom- 
plished by forty-seven. It is said that the 
labor occupied between four and five years. 



Vlll INTRODUCTION. 

It contains phrases which modern critics 
have shown do not express exactly the orig- 
inal meaning; but as a whole, it stands un- 
rivalled. A modern writer says : " More than 
two hundred years have elapsed since this 
translation, and yet the simple and majestic 
purity and power of the English tongue is 
expressed as clearly as when it was given 
to the world. It has become the standard 
of our language, and nowhere can the pu- 
rity and expressive dignity of this language 
be so fully found as in the Scriptures." — 
" Succeeding ages may correct some of its few 
unimportant errors — may throw light upon 
some of its obscure passages, — but it must 
stand, wherever the English language is 
spoken, as the purest specimen of its power 
to give utterance to the meaning of ancient 
tongues, and of the simple and pure majesty 
of the language we speak." 

The Bible is regarded as the highest out- 
ward authority by the Christian commu- 
nity. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

The Creation of the World, 12. Adam and Eve, 19. 
Cain and Abel, 21. Noah, 23. The Deluge, 25. 
Tower of Babel, 27. 

CHAPTER II. 

The Land of Canaan, 28. Abraham and Sarah, 29. 
Lot, 30. Hagar, 31. Sodom and Gomorrah, 37. 
Ishmael, 40. Isaac, 43. Rebecca, 46. 

CHAPTER III. 

Esau and Jacob, 51. Laban, 56. Rachel, 57. Leah, 
58. Jacob's Return to his Native Place, 59. Death 
of Rachel, 69. Joseph, 70. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Joseph, 72. Pharaoh's Dreams, 78. Years of Plenty 
and Famine, 79. Joseph's Brethren, 81. Israel's 
Removal to Egypt, 96. Israel's Death, 104. 

CHAPTER* V. 

Pharaoh's Daughter, 109. Moses, 110. Midian, 111. 
Burning Bush, 113. Aaron, 118. Pharaoh refuses 

(ix) 



X CONTENTS. 

to release Israel, 120. Their subsequent Departure, 
125. Pharaoh and his Host Destroyed, 128. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Miriam the Prophetess, 130. Wilderness, 131. Is- 
raelites fed with Manna, 132. Amalek, 134. Joshua, 
134. Judges appointed by Moses, 137. Mount 
Sinai, 138. The Ten Commandments, 141. Pillar 
of Cloud and of Fire, 148. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Children of Israel, 150. Eleazar made Priest, 156. 
Aaron's Death, 156. The Habits of Mourning, 157. 
Balaam, 158. The Land of Canaan, 164. The 
Counsel of Moses to Joshua, 165. Moses blesses 
Israel, 166. The Death of Moses, 167. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

THE BOOK OF RUTH. 

Elimelech and Family, 168. Bethlehem- Judah, 169. 
Death of Elimelech, 169. Mahlon and Chilion, 170. 
Orpah and Ruth, 170. Death of Mahlon and Chilion, 
170. Naomi, 171. Mosaic Statutes, 173. Ruth 
Gleans, 173. Boaz, 174. Salutations, 1~6. The 
Gate of the City, 183. Boaz and his Kinsman, 184. 
Marriage of Boaz, 184. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Samuel the Prophet, 186. Eli the Priest, 187. Sam- 
uel was Called, 188. The Ark of the Covenant, 193. 
Samuel's Sons made Judges, 201. The People de- 
sire a King, 201. 



CONTENTS. XI 

CHAPTER X. 

Saul, 203. Saul anointed King, 207. Samuel's In- 
tegrity, 210. Amalek, 211. Saul's Disobedience, 
212. David anointed King, 217. 

CHAPTER XI. 

Saul in Trouble, 218. David, 219. Goliah, 219. 
Goliah's Death, 224. Jonathan, 226. David's Mar- 
riage, 228. His Flight from Saul, 229. Ahimelech, 
231. Abiathar, 234. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Saul in the Cave, 237. David and Saul, 238. Death 
of Samuel, 239. The Cruise and Spear, 240. Saul's 
Death, 243. Ishbosheth, 245. David reanointed 
King, 246. Nathan, 248. Mephibosheth, 251. Ziba, 
251. Bathsheba, 254. Solomon, 254. Absalom, 255. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

The House of Saul, 256. Absalom, 257. Death of 
Absalom, 259. Zadok and Abiathar, 264. Sheba, 
266. Famine, 267. Adonijah, 268. Bathsheba, 269. 
Nathan, 270. Solomon anointed King, 271. Death 
of David, 272. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

A Hymn of Thanksgiving, spoken by David after his 
Deliverance from his Enemies and from the Hand 
of Saul. 

CHAPTER XV. 

Solomon, 279. The two Mothers, 281. Hiram, King 
of Tyre, 284. The Temple, 286. Vessels of Gold, 



Xll CONTENTS. 

287. Dedication of the Temple, 288. Queen of 
Sheba, 289. Throne of Solomon, 291. Jeroboam, 
292. Solomon's Death, 294. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

DANIEL THE PROPHET. 

Daniel, 295. Nebuchadnezzar, 296. Hananiah, Mi- 
shael, Azariah, 297. The Captives' Food, 297. The 
King's Dream, 299. Interpretation, 303. Daniel, 
his Three Friends, 306. The King's Decree, 307. 
Fiery Furnace, 307. Deliverance, 309. Another 
Dream, 312. Belshazzar's Feast, 316. The Writing 
on the Wall, 317. Daniel Interprets it, 319. Daniel 
Promoted, 319. Belshazzar's Death, 319. Darius, 
319. Daniel in the Lions' Den, 321. His Escape, 
322. Cyrus, 324. 



% iWital listorg. 



CHAPTEE I. 

THE CREATION OF THE WORLD — ADAM AND 
EVE — CAIN AND ABEL — NOAH THE DEL- 
UGE TOWER OF BABEL. 

Question. What is said respecting the ori- 
gin of the Scriptures ? 

Answer. That holy men of old wrote as 
they were inspired. 

Q. Is ail that is found in the Bible sup- 
posed to have been written by inspiration? 

A. " Prophecy came not in old time by the 
will of man, but holy men of God spake as 
they were moved by the Holy Ghost ;" and 
in writing or compiling the historical parts 
of the Bible, wisdom was furnished to render 
the narrative instructive. 

Q. Do you know why the first book of the 
Old Testament is called Genesis ? 

A. Genesis means Creation, and the Book 
of Genesis, as its name implies, gives an ac- 
count of the creation of the world and of man. 
2 (13) 



14 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Of what else does it tell us ? 

A. It describes the disobedience of our first 
parents, and tells us of the flood, and of the 
patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob down 
to Joseph. 

Q. Is this Book considered particularly 
valuable by the Jews ? 

A. They look upon it with veneration, as 
giving a history of their venerable founder 
Abraham and his near descendants, around 
whom many of their peculiar customs and 
laws were intertwined. 

Q. In what other particular is it valuable ? 

A. Besides subjects for moral and religious 
reflection, it furnishes rich material for his- 
torical, genealogical, and antiquarian investi- 
gations. 

Q. What does the Bible say of the creation 
of the world ? 

A. That God created the heavens and the 
earth, and that at first the earth was with- 
out form and void, and darkness covered the 
face of the great deep. 

Q. How was the darkness removed ? 

A. The spirit of God moved upon the wa- 
ters, and he said, Let there be light, and 
there was light. 

Q. What was the light called? 

A. The light was called day, and the dark- 
ness was called night. 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. 15 

Q. What portion of time was called a day? 

A. The morning and the evening were 
called a day. 

Q. In what way were the waters divided ? 

A. It is written, God made the firmament 
and divided the waters. 

Q. What was the firmament called ? 

A. It was called Heaven. 

Q. How was the firmament illuminated ? 

A. By two great lights : the greater light 
to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule 
the night. Stars were also made to give 
light to the earth. 

Q. Do you remember the beautiful lan- 
guage of the Psalmist in reference to the 
heavens ? 

A. " When I consider thy heavens the 
work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars 
which thou hast ordained ; what is man that 
thou art mindful of him, and the son of man 
that thou visiteth him." 

Q. What was the earth to produce? 

A. Grass and herbs yielding seed after 
their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed 
within itself. 

Q. Anything else? 

A. Cattle, beasts, birds and many creep- 
ing things which now inhabit the earth. 

Q. After the waters were gathered, what 
were they called ? 



16 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. They were called seas, and were to 
bring forth an abundance of fishes, and many 
other living creatures. 

Q. How many days are said to have been 
occupied in the creation of the world ? 

A. Six days, and on the seventh it is writ- 
ten God rested from his labor. 

Q. Of what is this account of the creation, 
the labor and rest, typical? 

A. The whole may be applied to man's 
spiritual condition. 

Q. In what way ? Can you give an illus- 
tration ? 

A. There is a state w T hich may justly be 
compared to the earth without form; with 
darkness covering the whole earth. 

Q. Is this darkness to be dispelled by hu- 
man effort ? 

A. No; but by' patiently waiting for the 
great creative power to move as upon the 
face of the waters, the same command will 
be given, Let there be light, and there will 
be light. 

Q. We see that the figure may be applied 
throughout ; but give your idea of the labor 
and rest. 

A. Man is to labor diligently, day by day, 
for the perfection of his spiritual creation, 
and when it is accomplished, he will perceive 



ADAM. 17 

that it is good ; and the peace which is the 
result of this labor may justly be compared 
to the Sabbath, or day of rest. 

Q. What was said of the creation after its 
formation ? 
A. God saw everything that He had made, 
and pronounced it very good. 

Q. Did He cause rain to fall upon the earth 
at once ? 

A. No ; but a mist went up from the earth 
and watered the whole face of the ground. 

Q. What now was regarded as essential 
for the completion of the design of the crea- 
tion ? 

A. The formation of man. There being 
no one to till the ground, the Lord formed 
man of the dust of the earth, and breathed 
into him the breath of life, and he became a 
living soul. 

Q. What was the name given to man ? 

A. Adam, which signifies, earthy — taken 
out of red earth. 

Q. Where was Adam placed ? 

A. In the garden of Eden. 

Q. What does Eden imply? 

A. The word denotes pleasure or delight, 
and is applied to a place remarkable for 
beauty or fertility. 
2* 



18 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. What was there peculiar about the 
garden of Eden ? 

A. A river went out of it, and parted into 
four streams. 

Q. What at the present time is said about 
its locality ? 

A. The attempt to establish the locality 
of the garden is attended with great diffi- 
culty. 

Q. What commandment was given Adam 
when he was placed in Eden ? 

A. Of every tree of the garden he might 
freely eat ; but of the tree of the knowledge 
of good and evil he should not eat. 

Q. What was the penalty attached to dis- 
obeying this commandment ? 

A, If he ate thereof, he should surely die. 

Q. What kind of death was alluded to ? 

A. Not the death of the body; — but 
through disobedience he would be separated 
from that divine life or harmony which is 
essential for the health of the spirit, where- 
by he would witness a spiritual death ; for, 
"to be carnally-minded is death." 

Q. What did Adam seem to require to 
complete his happiness in the beautiful spot 
in which he had been placed ? 

A. The Lord said, it was not good for man 
to be alone ; and he created woman to be an 
help-meet for him. 



ADAM AND EVE. 19 

Q. What was the name of the woman, 
and what did Adam call her ? 

A. Her name was Eve, and Adam called 
her his wife. 

Q. What does Eve signify ? 

A. A living, or enlivening. 

Q. In what responsible position was Adam 
placed ? 

A. He was to give names to the beasts of 
the field, the fowls of the air, and to every 
living and creeping thing; and he was given 
dominion over them. 

Q. What great sorrow befel Adam and 
Eve? 

A. They partook of the forbidden fruit, 
and witnessed the spiritual death of which 
they had been forewarned. 

Q. What tempted them to eat the forbid- 
den fruit? 

A. It is written, that the serpent tempted 
the woman, and she shared it with her hus- 
band. 

Q. What disposition in the mind does this 
figure represent ? 

A. Selfishness or self-will. 

Q. What was the effect of their disobe- 
dience ? 

A. They were unhappy; and when they 
heard the voice of the Lord they were afraid. 



20 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Do you know anything about this feel- 
ing? 

A. Yes ; to do wrong, or disobey the will 
of our heavenly Father, always occasions 
unhappiness and suffering. 

Q. What became of Adam and Eve after 
they transgressed the divine law? 

A. They were driven from Paradise ; and 
it was said they should earn their living, or 
bread, by tilling the ground, or by destroy- 
ing the thorns and thistles that would spring 
up. 

Q. Do you know what these thorns and 
thistles are intended to represent ? 

A. Yes; the improper thoughts and de- 
sires that would choke the good seed sown 
in the heart, and prevent its growth. 

Q. What was placed at the east end of the 
garden ? 

A. A naming sword, to keep the way of 
the tree of life. 

Q. What does the naming sword imply ? 

A. The good spirit which is given to every 
one, to guard him from evil and guide him in 
the right way. 

Q. What do we read of Cain and Abel, 
the sons of Adam and Eve ? 

A. Cain was a tiller of the ground, and 
Abel a keeper of sheep. 



CAIN AND ABEL. 21 

Q. What are we told of their offerings ? 

A. Cain brought of the fruit of the ground 
an offering unto the Lord, and Abel brought 
of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat 
thereof. 

Q. Is there anything more said of their 
offerings ? 

A. The Lord had respect unto Abel's offer- 
ing, and had not respect unto Cain's. 

Q. Why had the Lord greater respect unto 
Abel's offering than Cain's? 

A. Abel was a righteous man and trusted 
in God, and therefore by faith offered a more 
acceptable sacrifice than Cain. 

Q. Did this offend Cain ? 

A, Cain's countenance fell, and he was very 
angry. 

Q. What was said to Cain ? 

A. Why art thou wroth ? If thou doest 
well, shalt thou not be accepted, and if thou 
doest not well, sin lieth at the door. 

Q. Had this the effect upon Cain it should 
have had? 

A. No ; Cain, while talking to his brother, 
slew him. 

Q. What answer did Cain give, when que- 
ried with about his brother? 

A. He replied, Am I my brother's keeper ? 

Q. What was the condemnation for this 
cruel act ? 



22 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. The ground which he tilled should not 
give forth its strength, and he should be a 
fugitive upon the face of the earth. 
Q. How did Cain meet this sentence? 
A. He said, " My punishment is greater 
than I can bear. Behold, Thou hast driven 
me out this day from the face of the earth, 
and from Thy face shall I be hid. I shall be 
a fugitive and vagabond, and those who find 
me shall slay me." 

Q. In what way was Cain's life to be pre- 
served ? 

A. A mark was set upon him lest any 
finding him should kill him ; and it was said, 
whosoever slew Cain should suffer seven- 
fold. 

Q. Where did Cain live after he slew his 
brother ? 

A. In the land of Nod, situated a little east 
of Eden ; and it is said he built the city of 
Enoch there. 

Q. What does the word Nod signify? 
A. Wandering, exile, wilderness, or the 
wilds, — descriptive of a guilty state of mind. 
Q. What was Adam's age when he died ? 
A. Nine hundred and thirty years. 
Q. Who is said to be the oldest man who 
ever lived ? 
A. Methuselah, who lived 969 years. 



NOAH. 23 

Q. Who was the father of Methuselah ? 

A. Enoch. 

Q. For what was Enoch noted ? 

A. Enoch walked with God. 

Q. Why did the flood come upon tne 
earth ? 

A. The wickedness of man was great in 
the earth, and the thoughts of his heart were 
evil continually. 

Q. Who was warned of the impending 
deluge ? 

A. Noah was told that the earth would be 
destroyed, and that he should make an ark 
of gopher wood, in which he and his family 
might be saved. 

Q. Do you know what kind of wood go- 
pher wood is ? 

A. The Greek name of cypress bears a 
resemblance to gopher, and by some it is 
believed to be the same tree. 

Q. Was this kind of wood common to the 
country ? 

A. It abounded in Assyria and was valued 
for its durability and freedom from worms ; 
it was used for ship-building, and was almost 
the only wood that could furnish timber for 
so large a vessel. 

Q. Was only Noah's family to be saved ? 
A. It is recorded that " God said that 



24 x BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

everything that is in the earth should die; 
but with Noah he should establish a cove- 
nant, and he should take his sons, and his 
wife, and his sons' wives, and of every living 
thing there should be two of a sort, male and 
female, and they should go into the ark." 

Q. Why were Noah and his family thus 
favored ? 

A. Noah found grace in the eyes of the 
Lord. He was a just and upright man. 

Q. What were the names of the sons of 
Noah ? 

A. Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 

Q. Did Noah act in accordance with what 
had been shown him ? 

A. He built the ark as he was commanded ; 
and he and his family, with the beasts of the 
field, and fowls of the air, and the creeping 
things of the earth, two of every kind en- 
tered it. 

Q. How long did it rain upon the earth? 

A. Forty days and forty nights. 

Q. How long did the waters prevail ? 

A. One hundred and fifty days. 

Q. By what means did Noah discover that 
the waters had abated ? 

A. He opened a window of the ark, and 
sent forth a dove. 

Q. Did the dove return to the ark? 



THE DELUGE. 25 

A. Finding no rest for the sole of her foot, 
she returned to the ark. 

Q. Did he send her forth again ? 

A. In seven days he again sent her forth, 
and in the evening she returned with an 
olive-leaf in her mouth, and Noah knew by 
this that the waters had abated. 

Q. What was the name of the mountain 
upon which the ark rested ? 

A. Ararat — the height of which is said to 
be fifteen thousand feet. 

Q. What do modern travellers say of this 
mountain ? 

A. That it may be distinguished at the* 
distance of two hundred miles, and that it is 
covered with ice and snow. 

Q. Have they succeeded in reaching its 
top ? 

A. It has been visited by many, but its 
summit has proved inaccessible. Years ago 
a large reward was offered by the Turkish 
governor of Beyazid to any one who should 
reach the top; but though many of the na- 
tives who lived at its foot made the attempt, 
they all failed. 

Q. What was Noah's first act after he and 
his family left the ark ? 

A. He built an altar unto the Lord, and 
made an offering upon it. 



26 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. What was said of this offering ? 

A. The Lord smelled a sweet savor and 
said, I will not again curse the ground for 
man's sake, but while the earth remaineth, 
seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, sum- 
mer and winter, day and night, shall not 
<cease. 

Q. What further evidence was furnished 
<of the goodness and mercy of the Universal 
Father? 

A. As a token of the covenant made with 
Noah that there should no more be a flood 
to destroy man, he would bring a cloud over 
the earth, and a bow should be seen in the 
cloud. 

Q. How long did Noah live after the flood, 
and at what age did he die ? 

A. Noah lived 350 years after the deluge, 
.and all his days are recorded as 950 years. 

Q. Was the whole earth of one speech at 
this time ? 

A, It was, until the people attempted to 
build a tower on a plain in the land of Shinar. 

0. What was the object of this tower? 

A. They said, Let us build us a city and a 
tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; 
and let us make a name, lest we be scattered 
lip on the face of the whole earth. 

Q. Did they accomplish this ? 



TOWER OF BABEL. 27 

A. No ; their language became confused, 
and they were scattered over the whole 
earth ; and they left off to build the city. 

Q. What was this city or tower called ? 

A. It was called Babel, because of the con- 
fusion of tongues. 

Q. Where was this building begun ? 

A. It is supposed, on the spot or in the 
immediate neighborhood where the city of 
Babylon afterwards stood, that is, on the 
Euphrates. 

Q. Were Noah or his sons concerned in 
building the tower? 

A. It is not likely ; but it is probable they 
opposed it, as the builders had " withdrawn 
themselves, and chose a place at some dis- 
tance from the seat of Noah and the patri- 
archs." 



CHAPTBE II. 

THE LAftD OF CANAAN — ABRAHAM — LOT — 
SODOM AND GOMORRAH — ISAAC — HAGAR 
AND ISHMAEL REBECCA. 

Question. Frequent mention is made in 
Scripture of the land of Canaan. Do you 
know where it lies ? 

Answer. The land of Canaan originally 
laid east and south-east of the Mediterranean 
Sea ) but the families of the Canaanites ex- 
tended their settlements among the neigh- 
boring nations. 

Q. What was the origin of its name ? 

A. It was called after Canaan, the son of 
Ham. 

Q. To whom was it afterwards given as 
an inheritance? 

A. To the children of Israel, or the seed 
of Abraham. 

Q. Can you mention anything of especial 
interest in the life of Abram, when he was 
young, and before he was called Abraham? 

A. He was commanded to leave his fa- 
ther's house, his kindred and country, and 

(28) 



THE LAND OF CANAAN. 29 

go into a land that the Lord would show 
him. 

Q. What was to be the result of his obe- 
dience to this command? 

A. The promise was, that he should be 
blessed, and that his name should be made 
great, and that in him should all the families 
of the earth be blessed. 

Q. In what manner should the families of 
the earth be blessed through Abram ? 

A. Abram believed in the Lord, and it 
was accounted unto him for righteousness ; 
and by his faithfulness others should be in- 
fluenced to walk in obedience to the divine 
will. 

Q. What was the Apostle Paul's testimony 
in relation to it ? 

A. Paul said : They which are of faith, 
the same are the children of Abraham, and 
those that are of faith are blessed with faith- 
ful Abraham. 

Q. Whom did Abram take with him when 
he left his kindred and country ? 

A. His wife Sarah, and Lot, his brother's 
son. 

Q. Did they amass wealth ? 

A. Yes. Abram possessed cattle, silver 
and gold; and Lot also had flocks, and 
herds and tents. 
3* 



30 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. What was the consequence of these 
riches ? 

A. The land was not able to produce food 
for them all, for their substance was great, 
and there was a strife between their herds- 
men. 

Q. What did Abram say to Lot about this 
trouble ? 

A. Let there be no strife, I pray thee, be- 
tween thee and me, and between my herds- 
men and thy herdsmen, for we are brethren. 

Q. How did he propose the difficulty 
should be settled? 

A. That they should separate. He gave 
his nephew his choice. If Lot should go to 
the left hand, Abram would take the right; 
but if he would depart to the right hand, 
Abram would take the left. 

Q. What would such a proposition be cal- 
culated to teach ? 

A. To avoid strife and settle difficulties 
with an unselfish spirit. # 

Q. Where did Lot locate himself? 

A. He chose all the plain of Jordan, be- 
cause it was well watered everywhere. 

Q. ]STow,what did Abram do? 

A. The Scripture says, the Lord told Abram 
to look northward and southward and east- 
ward and westward, and to arise and walk 



HAGAR AND ISHMAEL. 31 

through the land in its length and breadth, 
and it all should be given him and his seed 
forever. 

Q. In what sense do you understand this 
promise to have been given ? 

A. " The promise was not to Abram or to 
his seed through the law, but through the 
righteousness of faith." 

Q. Then, where did Abram pitch his tent ? 
A. He came and dwelt in the plain of 
JIamre, which is in Hebron, and he built an 
altar there. 

Q. Where is Hebron ? 

A. In the southern part of Canaan. 

Q. We read of Hagar as connected with 
Abraham's family. Who was she? 

A. Hagar was Abraham's bondwoman, 
and the mother of Ishmael. 

Q. Was Hagar driven into the wilderness? 

A. The record says, that she was found 
by an angel of the Lord, at a fountain of 
water in the wilderness, who inquired why 
she was there. 

Q. Did Hagar answer him truthfully ? 

A. She replied, she had fled from her mis- 
tress. 

Q. What was she advised to do ? 

A. To return and submit to the hand of 



32 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

her mistress ; and she was told that Ishmael 
should become a mighty nation. 

Q. Was Hagar comforted by the presence 
of the messenger? 

A. She recognized the goodness and mercy 
of her heavenly Father, and said, " Thou, 
God, seest me." 

Q. What was the well called at which 
this circumstance took place ? 
* A. It was called Beer-la-hai-roi, which 
being interpreted, is, " The well of Him that 
liveth and seeth me." 

Q. As Abraham sat in his tent-door on the 
plain of Mamre, whom did he see coming to- 
wards him? 

A. Three men, and he ran to meet them, 
and bowed himself toward the ground, and 
asked them to turn in and rest themselves 
under a tree. 

Q. Did Abraham have a meal prepared for 
them ? 

A. Abram had water brought to wash their 
feet, and told his wife to make ready quickly 
three measures of meal and knead and bake 
it on the hearth. 

Q. Did they not have loaves of bread as 
we have ? 

A. No- in that country bread would not 
keep good except for a short time ; and it was 



ABRAHAM. 33 

a universal custom to grind flour and bake 
it every day. 

Q. Grind flour every day ? 

A. Yes ; grain was ground in a handmill, 
which was an indispensable article in every 
house. 

Q. What was the construction of this mill ? 

A. It w x as made of two circular stones 
placed horizontally one upon another; and 
the upper being made to revolve upon the 
lower, reduced to flour the corn which was 
introduced through a hole in the topmost 
stone. There was a wooden handle fastened 
above by which to turn it. 

Q. Who used the mill ? 

A. It was the business of maid-servants, 
and it was considered a degrading employ- 
ment for a man, or for a woman of rank. 

Q. Could one person turn the mill ? 

A. One could do it ; but it was usual to 
have two, to make the work lighter. 

Q. How was the bread baked ? 

A. In various ways ; but a common plan 
was to bake cakes on the hearth or in the 
ashes, though iron pans or plates were some- 
times used and placed over the fire. 

Q. Did Abram furnish his guests with any- 
thing beside bread ? 

A, While Sarah made the cakes, Abram 



34 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

caught a young and tender calf and had a 
young man to dress it; beside the meat and 
bread he placed butter and milk before them, 
and they ate their meal under the tree. 

Q. What appeared to be the object of their 
visit to Abram ? 

A. They gave a promise to Abram of a son, 
and he was also shown that Sodom would be 
destroyed. 

Q. Did the men remain long with Abram ? 

A. After they had concluded their meal, 
and delivered their message, they arose and 
went toward Sodom. 

Q. Did Abram accompany them? 

A. He went part way with them, but re- 
turned after he heard the fate of Sodom. 

Q. Why was Abram made acquainted with 
what should befall that city ? 

A. It is written that the destruction of 
Sodom was shown Abraham, because he would 
become a great and mighty nation; and that 
the Lord knew him, that he would command 
his children and his household after him. 

Q. What was Abrain's query when he 
heard that city was to be destroyed ? 

A. Abraham drew near and said, Wilt thou 
also destroy the righteous with the wicked ? 
and queried, if there were fifty righteous to 
be found, would not the place be spared ? For, 



LOT. 35 

said he, far be it from Thee that the right- 
eous shall be as the wicked. Shall not the 
Judge of all the earth do right ? 

Q. What was the reply ? 

A. He was answered that if there were 
fifty righteous found in the city, that it 
should be spared for their sakes. 

Q, Did Abram make a further appeal ? 

A. He said, Behold, I have taken upon me 
to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust 
and ashes; but if there lack five of the fifty, 
wilt Thou destroy it for the lack of the five? 
And the promise was that it should not be 
destroyed. 

Q. Was Abraham still disposed to plead 
for Sodom? 

A. He continued his request not only if 
there were thirty, but if there were twenty 
found, and then if there were ten. 

Q. Was he promised that if ten were found 
there, that the city should be saved for the 
sake of the ten ? 

A. This was the assurance Abraham re- 
ceived ) after which he returned to his own 
house. 

Q. Was Lot sojourning at Sodom at this 
time? 

A. Lot was still there, and we learn by 
the record that two angels or messengers, 



36 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

for in that day the messengers of the Lord 
were often called angels, came to Lot in the 
evening, and he bowed himself to the ground. 

Q. Did he invite these messengers to tarry- 
all night with him ? 

A. Lot said, I pray you my lords, turn into 
your servant's house, and wash your feet and 
tarry all night, and you shall rise up early 
and go on your way. 

Q. Did they lodge with Lot ? 

A. They said Nay, but we will abide in the 
street all night ; but as Lot pressed them 
greatly, they entered his house, and he made 
them a " feast." 

Q. A feast in accordance with the modern 
idea? 

A. We may presume it was a simple meal 
that Lot provided for his friends; we are 
told that unleavened bread was baked, and 
they did eat. 

Q. What was the errand of these messen- 
gers? 

A. It would seem that it was to preserve 
Lot and his family. They bade them flee 
from Sodom, that they might not be con- 
sumed in the iniquity of the city. 

Q. Did they go as they were directed ? 

A. Lot called his sons-in-law, but they 
would not hear; and while he lingered he 



SODOM AND GOMORRAH. 37 

was bidden to make haste, and take his wife 
and daughters with him. 

Q. What command was given Lot as they 
departed ? 

A. " Escape for thy life ; look not behind 
thee, neither stay thou in all the plain ; escape 
to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. " 

Q. What favor did Lot ask ? 

A. That he might not go to the moun- 
tain lest evil should befall him, but that he 
might flee to a city, a " little one," that hi& 
soul might live. 

Q. Was his request granted ? And what 
was the city called ? 

A. Yes; Lot was permitted to enter the 
city, and it was called Zoar, which signifies 
little or small. 

Q. Was Sodom destroyed ? 

A. It is said, that the Lord rained upon 
Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire T 
and the cities were overthrown and the in- 
habitants were destroyed. 

Q. What happened to Lot's wife ? 

A. She looked back in her flight and be- 
came a pillar of salt. 

Q. Did Abraham witness the destruction 
of Sodom ? 

A. Abraham went to the place where he 
stood in the morning before the Lord, and 
'4 



38 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and the 
smoke of the country was as the smoke of 
a furnace. 

Q. Did Abraham change his residence 
about this time ? 

A. He went to the south country and so- 
journed in Gerar, an ancient town of the 
Philistines, not far from Gaza. 

Q. Is this city mentioned by modern his- 
torians ? 

A. Gerar is not noticed in late histories. 

Q Was this the birth-place of Isaac, the 
•son of promise ? 

A. It appears to have been, as there is no 
account of Abraham's having again removed 
before his birth. 

Q. Why were the Patriarchs so roving in 
their habits ? 

A, They were nearly all shepherds or the 
keeper of sheep and cattle, and dwelt in tents, 
which they removed as the pasturage for 
their flocks required ; it being an easy mat- 
ter, as the grass failed in one place, to move 
to another still fresh with the wild abundance 
of nature. 

Q. Are they not spoken of as being rich 
in gold and silver, as well as in flocks ? 

A. Some of them are; such as Abraham and 
Isaac, and also Jacob with all his sons, who 



PATRIARCHS. 39 

were not only wealthy in worldly substance, 
but were surrounded by several hundred ser- 
vants. 

Q. What is meant by the term Patriarch ? 

A. It means the father or a ruler of a 
family who governs by paternal right. 

Q. AVas it the usual form of government at 
that time ? 

A. The first form of government that was 
instituted was patriarchal, — the authority 
of parents being recognized by their children 
after they were grown, and even after they 
had formed new families of their own. 

Q. Was the Patriarch looked upon with 
special reverence ? 

A. His decendants were taught to look 
upon him as their head, both religious and 
civil. 

Q. In case of the death of a Patriarch, 
what was done ? 

A. When the father died, each son became 
the proper ruler of that branch of the gen- 
eral family which was descended from himself. 

Q. What was the title given such ? 

A. Such an one was called a prince, a ruler. 
He had power to make war or treaties of 
peace with states and tribes around him, by 
his own sovereign authority. 

Q. What family trouble is recorded as oc- 



40 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

curring at a feast which was given on Isaac's 
account, while he was yet young ? 

A* Sarah saw Ishmael, Hagar's son, mock- 
ing, and she called to Abraham and said, 
Cast out this bond-woman and her son, for 
her son shall not be heir with my son. 

Q. Was this a trial to Abraham ? 

A. It was very grievous to him ; but he 
was assured that it was better to do as Sarah 
requested, and that Ishmael would be remem- 
bered. 

Q. Did Abraham provide for Hagar and 
Ishmael ? 

A. He arose early in the morning, and took 
bread and a bottle of water, and gave it to 
Hagar, and she departed and wandered into 
the wilderness of Beersheba. 

Q. Was the bottle here mentioned like the 
glass bottles now in use ? 

A. Xo ; the bottles used in that day were 
made of goat-skin. 

Q. How were they made ? 

A. By stripping off the skin of a goat or 
kid from the neck downward without rip- 
ping it, and cutting off the legs and tail. 

Q. Which was the mouth of the vessel ? 

A. The hole left by one of the fore-legs 
answered the purpose of a spout, while the 
rest were tightly sewed up. 



HAGARAND ISHMAEL. 41 

Q. How was it filled ? 

A. It was filled by the neck, which was 
afterward tied like the mouth of a sack. 

Q. Did the water keep good and fresh in 
this kind of a bottle ? 

A, It is said that water, milk, or wine, 
will keep better in this than in any other 
kind of vessel. 

Q. Are they used for other purposes ? 

A. Almost every kind of provisions is car- 
ried in them. 

Q. Are such bottles in use now ? 

A. The Arabs still use them, and some- 
times form a vessel nearly as large as a hogs- 
head out of an ox-skin. Two of this size 
filled with water and slung over the back of 
a camel, are of great value to a company 
travelling through the desert. 

Q. Was Hagar likely to perish in the 
wilderness ? 

A. After the water was gone, she threw 
her child under a shrub, and went a good 
way off, that she might not see him die, and 
she sat down and wept. 

Q. What is recorded as happening to Ha- 
gar at this juncture ? 

A. It is written, God heard the voice of 
the lad, and the angel of God called to Hagar 
out of heaven, and said, What aileth thee ? 
4* 



42 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Fear not, for God hath heard the voice of the 
lad from whence he is. 

Q. What was she bidden to do? 

A. To arise and lift up the lad and hold 
him in her hand, for He would make him a 
great nation. 

Q. What did she now discover near her? 

A. She opened her eyes and beheld a well 
of water, and she went and filled the bottle 
with water and gave the lad drink. 

Q. Did Hagar and Ishmael continue in the 
wilderness ? 

A. They dwelt there, and Ishmael grew 
and became an archer. 

Q. Of whom was Ishmael the ancestor? 

A. He was the ancestor of the Ishmaelites, 
from whom are descended the modern Arabs 
of the desert, or Bedouins. 

Q. How old was Abram when his name 
was changed to Abraham? 

A. Abram was ninety-nine years old when 
the Lord appeared unto him and said, I am 
the Almighty God; w T alk before me, and be 
thou perfect ; he was also told he should no 
longer be called Abram, but Abraham. 

Q. What difference is there in the signifi- 
cation of these two names? 

A. Abram signifies an high father, the 
father of elevation; and Abraham, the father 
of a great multitude. 



ISAAC. 43 

Q. What trial of Abraham's faith occurred 
not very long after this period ? 

A. He felt himself called upon to sacrifice 
his beloved son Isaac. 

Q. Was there an especial reason for this 
being a test of his faith ? 

A. Yes ) Isaac was the child of his old age 
and the heir of promise. 

Q. Upon what mount did Abraham make 
the altar preparatory to the sacrifice of 
Isaac ? 

A. Upon mount Moriah, a three days' jour- 
ney from his home. He prepared the wood 
and laid it upon Isaac, while he took the fire 
and the knife. 

Q. What did Isaac say to his father as 
they were ascending the mountain? 

A. My father, behold the fire and the 
wood ! but where is the lamb for a burnt- 
offering? 

Q. What was the reply ? 

A. My son, God will provide himself a lamb 
for a burnt-offering. 

Q. After binding his son to the altar, and 
Abraham had stretched forth his hand to 
slay his son, what did he hear? 

A. " Abraham, Abraham, lay not thine 
hand upon the lad, for now I know thou 
fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld 
thy son, thine only son, from me." 



44 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. We thought that Abraham had other 
sons ; why is Isaac called an only son ? 

A. We are informed that the word only 
was used sometimes to express excellence — 
superiority — and in that sense we suppose it 
was applied to Isaac as the heir of promise. 
The term " first-born" was also used in the 
same way by the ancients. 

Q. As Abraham lifted up his eyes, what 
did he see and do? 

A. He saw a ram caught in the thicket by 
his horns; and he took the ram and offered 
him as a burnt-offering, instead of his son. 

Q. What further evidence of approbation 
did Abraham receive for his faithfulness? 

A. It was said to him, Because thou hast 
done this thing, and hast not withheld thy 
son, in blessing I will bless thee, and in 
multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the 
stars of the heaven and as the sand which is 
upon the sea-shore, and in thy seed shall all 
the nations of the earth be blessed, because 
thou hast obeyed my voice. 

Q. What important lesson is taught by 
this history so full of trust and resignation 
to the divine will ? 

A. That a blessing ever attends a faithful 
adherence to what we believe to be right, 
even though it may call for the sacrifice, or 






ISAAC. 45 

giving up, of that which is as dear to us as 
an only son. 

Q. How old was Sarah, Abraham's wife ? 
when she died? and where was she buried? 

A. Sarah was one hundred and twenty- 
seven years old. She was buried in a sepul- 
chre which Abraham bought of the sons of 
Heth for a burying-place, in the field of 
Macbpelab. 

Q. Did Abraham marry again after the 
death of Sarah ? 

A. He married Keturah, and they had a 
family of six sons. 

Q. In what way did Abraham, in his old 
age, manifest his concern for the welfare of 
Isaac ? 

A. He called the eldest servant of his 
house, and charged him to go into the coun- 
try of his own kindred, and bring his son a 
wife from thence. 

Q. Had the servant doubts as to the suc- 
cess of the undertaking ? 

A. He had ; but he was assured by Abra- 
ham that an angel would be sent before him. 

Q. In what way did he manifest a faith 
similar to that of Abraham? 

A. By making his camels kneel down by 
the well at which the maidens of the city of 
Nahor came to draw water, and asking that 



46 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

good speed might attend him, and that kind- 
ness might be shown unto his master Abra- 
ham. 

Q. TThat sign did he ask should be given 
as to which of the maidens should be the 
wife of Isaac ? 

A. He said, Let it come to pass that the 
damsel to whom I say let down thy pitcher, 
I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall 
say. Drink, and I will give the camels drink 
also; let the same be she, and thereby I 
shall knew that thou hast shown kindness to 
my master. 

Q. Was this request granted ? 

A. TVe read that .Rebecca the daughter of 
Bethuel came with her pitcher upon her 
shoulder, and when the servant ran to meet 
her and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a 
little water of thy pitcher, she said, Drink, 
my lord, and she hastily let down her pitch- 
er, and when she had finished giving him 
drink, she said, I will draw water for thy 
camels also. 

Q. Does the custom of drawing water from 
wells still continue in the East? 

A. The custom of drawing water in pitch- 
ers still prevails in the East: — an earthen 
vessel with two handles being used for the 
purpose. 






REBECCA. 47 

Q. What did the servant say upon having 
his wish so admirably granted ? 

A. The man held his peace, and wondered 
if the Lord had made his journey prosperous. 

Q. What further is said of Eebecca? 

A. She is represented as having been very 
fair. 

Q. What reply did she make when asked 
if there was room in her father's house to 
lodge the strangers ? 

A. She said, We have both straw and pro- 
vender enough, and a room to lodge in. 

Q. What acknowledgment of gratitude 
did the servant then make? 

A. He bowed his head and worshipped, say- 
ing, Blessed be the Lord God of my master 
Abraham, who hath not left destitute my 
master of his mercy and his truth; and I 
being in the way, he led me to the house of 
my master's brethren. 

Q. After she had received presents from 
the stranger, what did Eebecca do ? 

A. The damsel ran and told them of her 
mother's house all that had happened, and 
Laban her brother went out to meet the man 
at the well. 

Q. Did he invite him into the house? 

A. After he saw the presents which his 
sister had received, and heard from the ser- 



48 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

vant that Abraham had sent him, he enter- 
tained him with great hospitality. 

Q. Among the rites of hospitality of that 
day, can you name one which was considered 
especially important? 

A. To provide water to wash the travel- 
ler's feet. 

Q. Why was it more necessary then, than 
now? 

A. At that time the feet of travellers were 
not protected as we see them. We are told 
the common covering of the foot was a san- 
dal, but persons often went barefoot. 

Q. How did the servant make known his 
errand ? 

A As he sat at meat, he rehearsed the 
particulars of his mission, — how Abraham 
had been blessed and become great, and that 
he had sent him to bring a wife for his son 
from among his own kindred. 

Q. Did he allude to his own fears that 
" the woman " would not follow him ? 

A. Yes. He spoke of his own doubts, and 
also of his master's assurance that the Lord 
would prosper him ; he further told them 
of the sign that he had prayed should be 
given respecting the damsel, and how won- 
derfully his prayer had been granted. 

Q. What effect had this narration upon 
the father and brother of Eebecca? 



REBECCA. 49 

A. They answered and said, The thing 
proeeedeth from the Lord. Behold, Eebecca 
is before thee; take her and go, and let her 
be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath 
spoken. 

Q, How did the stranger manifest his ap- 
preciation of the favors which he received ? 

A. He worshipped the Lord, bowing him- 
self to the earth. 

Q. What proofs of friendship did he now 
proffer Eebecca ? 

A. He brought forth jewels of silver, and 
jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them 
to Eebecca, and also gave to her mother and 
brother precious things. 

Q. Did Eebecca go at once with the 
stranger ? 

A. Her mother and brother would have 
deferred her departure for ten days; but the 
man when he arose in the morning, said, 
send me away to my master. 

Q. How did they settle the matter? 

A. They said, We will call for the damsel, 
and inquire at her mouth. 

Q. What was her reply ? 

A. When queried with, if she would go 
with the man, she replied, I will go. 

Q. Who went with her ? 
5 



50 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. Rebecca's family gave her their bless- 
ing, and sent her nurse with her. 

Q. How did Isaac receive her? 

A. Isaac had gone into the field at even- 
tide to meditate, and he lifted up his eyes, 
and behold the camels were coming. When 
Rebecca saw Isaac, she alighted from the 
camel, and veiled herself according to the 
custom of that day. The servant told Isaac 
all that happened, and he brought Rebecca 
into his mother's tent, and she became his 
wife, and he loved her. 

Q. What is there in this history from 
which we may derive instruction? 

A. We discover that Abraham's faith in 
divine guidance was shared by his servant, 
whose heart was filled with gratitude, as he 
was made to prosper in his mission. That 
Rebecca and her family being satisfied that 
"the thing proceeded from the Lord," yielded 
in simplicity, and that the divine favor rested 
upon all. 

Q. What do we read of Abraham's latter 
days? 

A. That he lived an hundred threescore 
and fifteen years ; that he died in a good old 
age, and was gathered to his people, and was 
buried by his sons Isaac and Ishmael in the 
same sepulchre with Sarah his wife. Thus 
ended the life of the venerable patriarch. 



CHAPTEE III. 

ESAU AND JACOB — LABAN — LEAH AND RA- 
CHEL — Jacob's return — death of ra- 

CHEL JOSEPH. 

Question. Had Isaac and Eebecca any chil- 
dren? 

Answer. They had two sons, Esau and 
Jacob. 

Q. What is said of the boys ? 

A. The boys grew. Esau was a cunning 
hunter, a man of the field, and Jacob was a 
plain man, dwelling in tents. 

Q. We often hear allusion made to Esau's 
selling his birthright for a mess of pottage; 
what can you tell about it ? 

A. Esau came from the field weary and 
faint, and asked Jacob for some pottage. 

Q. Did his brother give it to him ? 

A. Jacob said, This day sell me thy birth- 
right. 

Q. What did he mean by this request? 

A. In that day the eldest born had privi- 
leges which the younger children did not 
enjoy; as at the present time, under mo- 

(51) 



52 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

narchical governments, the eldest son is heir 
to the kingdom. 

Q. Were not Esau and Jacob twins? 

A. They were; but Esau was the first 
born ; therefore Jacob said unto him, sell me 
this day thy birthright. 

Q. What was Esau's answer? 

A. Esau felt weary and faint and thought 
he was going to die, and concluded his birth- 
right was of very little value ; so he sold it 
to Jacob for a mess of pottage. 

Q. Can you tell of what this dish, so high- 
ly prized by Esau, consisted ? 

A. Pottage is said to be made of meat 
boiled soft, with some vegetables, or sweet 
herbs ; but the pottage that Jacob gave Esau 
was made of bread and lentils. 

Q. What are lentils? 

A. They are a kind of bean, which grow 
abundantly in Egypt, and are much used for 
food. Lentils are dressed in the same man- 
ner as beans, and dissolve easily, making a 
pottage of chocolate color. 

Q. Why is the circumstance of Esau's sell- 
ing his birthright so frequently referred to, 
in spiritual instruction? 

A. It is a forcible illustration of the con- 
sequences of parting with our birthright to 
an heavenly inheritance for earthly gratifica- 



ESAU AND JACOB. 53 

tions, which perish with the using, and give 
us no permanent happiness. 

Q. What do you mean by a birthright to 
an heavenly inheritance ? 

A. In a spiritual sense, man is created in 
the image of God, and designed by Him to 
inherit His kingdom, which is his spiritual 
birthright. 

Q. Was Jacob a favorite with his mother? 

A. He was; and through her means Jacob 
obtained the blessing which his father had 
designed for Esau. 

Q. What did this deception lead to ? 

A. To hatred and revenge ; and as Esau 
threatened the life of Jacob, the latter was 
persuaded by his mother to leave his father's 
house. 

Q. After leaving his home, what befel Ja- 
cob on his way to Padan-aram? 

A. He came to a certain place and tarried 
there all night; — he made his pillow of 
stones, and laid down to sleep, 

Q. " His pillow of stones." Is there teach- 
ing in this circumstance ? 

A. Yes. Through deception Jacob had 
grieved his father, and sorety offended his 
brother; and, to save his life, had left his 
father's house. He had thereby formed, as 
it were, a pillow of stones upon which to 
5* 



54 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

lay his head in the night season; which may 
be compared to a quiet hour suited to re- 
flection. 

Q. What is said of Jacob's dream on this 
occasion? 

A. He thought he saw a ladder reaching 
from earth to heaven, and the angels were 
ascending and descending on it. 

Q. What else did he think he saw? 

A. He thought he beheld the Lord stand- 
ing above it, and He told Jacob that He was 
with him, and would not leave him, but 
would go with him wherever he went. 

Q. Is there a lesson of spiritual import 
contained in this vision? 

A. We may justly suppose that the mind 
of Jacob had, before going to sleep, been 
turned toward his heavenly Father, in a re- 
pentant condition. 

Q. Would that be likely to occasion such a 
dream ? 

A. We may infer that the cry of penitence 
had been heard by the good Spirit, and that 
heavenly influences were hovering around 
Jacob even in his sleep ; and that this created 
the instructive vision of the angels that were 
ascending and descending the ladder. 

Q. To what may the angels be compared? 



Jacob's vision. 55 

A. To holy thoughts and desires which 
emanate from the divine spirit. 

Q. What does the ladder represent? 

A. The ladder may be compared to acts of 
obedience, each act being as a rund of the 
Ladder, leading step by step from earth to 
heaven. 

Q. There is another part you have not al- 
luded to. Jacob thought he saw the Lord 
standing above the ladder, and he talked 
with him ; what does this signify ? 

A. That Jacob felt that the Lord was near, 
and that he was remembered in mercy, and 
that forgiveness was granted him in the cove- 
nant made with him. 

Q. What did Jacob do when he awoke? 

A. Jacob said, Surely the Lord was in this 
place, and I knew it not. He took the stones 
which had been his pillow, and made a pillar, 
and poured oil on the top of it. 

Q. How might this act be spiritually inter- 
preted ? 

A. The dispositions which had formed for 
Jacob a hard and stony pillow were col- 
lected and placed together as a pillar, which 
was overspread with the love of God, that 
is not unfrequently spoken of as the anoint- 
ing oil. 

Q. What did Jacob call this place? 



56 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. The place was named by Jacob, Bethel 
the house of God. 

Q. Was this name afterwards transferred 
to another spot? 

A. A city eight or ten miles north of Jeru- 
salem was afterwards called by that name, and 
has since been looked upon as the real Bethel. 

Q. What was the covenant or u vow" of 
Jacob at this time ? 

A. That if the Lord would be with him, to 
keep him in the way that he should go, and 
would give him bread to eat and raiment to 
put on, so that he could come again in peace 
to his father's house, then should the Lord 
be his God. 

Q. In which direction did Jacob pursue 
his journey? 

A. Towards the East, where he found a 
well in the field with three flocks of sheep 
lying by it. 

Q. For what was this well especially used? 

A. For watering the flocks of the neighbor- 
hood. 

Q. Whom did Jacob meet at the well ? 

A. Men from Haran, who knew Laban, the 
uncle of Jacob. 

Q. Lid Jacob question them concerning 
Laban ? 

A. Yes; and they told Irm that Each el, 



RACHEL. 57 

Laban's daughter, was cb raring with her 
sheep. 

Q. What did Jacob do when Eachel came 
to the well? 

A. Jacob drew near and rolled the stone 
from the well's mouth, and watered her 
flocks. 

Q. "What liberty did he take with Eachel 
as a kinsman ? 

A. He " kissed Eachel, and lifted up his 
voice and wept." 

Q. What did she do when Jacob told her 
he was Eebecca's son ? 

A. She ran and told her father. 

Q. How did Laban receive Jacob? 

A, " When he heard the tidings he ran to 
meet him and embraced and kissed him; and 
brought him to his house, saying, Surely thou 
art my bone and my flesh." 

Q. How long did Jacob continue a guest 
in his uncle's house? 

A. He had been there a month, when his 
uncle told him, he must not serve him for 
naught, and asked what his wages should be. 

Q, What was Jacob's reply? 

A. Jacob loved Eachel, Laban's youngest 
daughter, and told her father he would serve 
liim seven years for her. 

Q. What answer did Laban give Jacob ? 



58 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. That it was better she should marry 
hirn than that she should be given to another, 
and that Jacob should abide with him. 

Q. Did Jacob serve Laban cheerfully for 
seven years ? 

A. Yes ; and he said it seemed to him but 
a few days, for the love he had for Eachel. 

Q. At the end of the seven years, did Jacob 
marry Eachel? 

A. No; his uncle insisted upon Jacob's 
taking Leah, an older sister, under the pre- 
text that in their country it was not seemly 
for a younger sister to wed before an older 
one. 

Q. Did Jacob consent ? 

A. He did, with the understanding that he 
was to serve seven years longer for Eachel. 

Q. But how could Jacob have two wives ? 

A. In the days of the Patriarchs it was 
not considered sinful to have more than one 
wife, but with the enlightenment of Chris- 
tianity, polygamy is looked upon as a great 
crime. 

Q. What did Jacob and Eachel call their 
oldest son ? 

A. Joseph. 

Q. Did Jacob continue with Laban after 
the birth of Joseph ? 

A. After Joseph was born, Jacob said to 



JACOB AND LABAN. 59 

Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto 
mine own place, and to my country. 

Q. How long had Jacob been with his 
father-in-law ? 

A. Twenty years. 

Q. What did Laban say to the proposi- 
tion ? 

A. He was not willing to part with his 
son-in-law, for he said he knew from expe- 
rience that he had been blessed for the sake 
of Jacob; and Laban asked Jacob what he 
should give him. 

Q. What reply did Jacob make ? 

A. He made certain propositions to Laban 
respecting the future increase of his flocks, 
of which Jacob should have a share, to 
which Laban assented. 

Q. Did Jacob remain as one of Laban's 
family ? 

A. No; he removed three days' journey 
from Laban, but continued as his herdman. 

Q. Did Jacob increase in outward sub- 
stance ? 

A. He "increased exceedingly and had 
many cattle." 

Q. What seems to have induced him to 
again think of returning to his native place ? 

A. He found the sons of Laban were be- 
coming jealous of him, and that his father- 



60 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

in-law looked upon him with less favor than 
formerly. 

Q. What promise was made to Jacob in 
his trouble ? 

A. The record says that the Lord said 
unto Jacob, Eeturn unto the" land of thy 
fathers, and to thy kindred, and I will be 
with thee. 

Q. What may be inferred from this promise ? 

A. That Jacob kept the covenant made by 
him at Bethel, and that he was favored with 
divine guidance in the way in which he 
should go. 

Q. Did Jacob consult with his wives about 
it? 

A. He called Leah and Eachel from the 
field and laid his heart open before them ; 
he told them they knew he had served their 
father with all his power, and although his 
wages had been changed ten times, yet God 
had not suffered him to be hurt. 

Q. In what manner did his wives receive 
this? 

A. They answered, u Whatsoever God hath 
said unto thee, do." 

Q. Did Jacob acquaint his father-in-law 
with his intentions ? 

A. No ; he left while Laban was absent 
shearing his sheep. 



JACOB AND LABAN. 61 

Q. What did Laban do when he discovered 
Jacob and his family had gone? 

A. On the third day after Jacob left, it 
was told Laban, and he took his brethren 
and pursued them a seven days' journey. 

Q. Had Laban a dream before starting ? 

A. We read that " God came to Laban, the 
Syrian, in a dream by night and said unto 
him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob 
either good or bad." 

Q. What shall we understand by this 
dream ? 

A. That Laban should be prudent and 
careful what he said to Jacob. 

Q. Where did Laban overtake Jacob ? 

A. Jacob had pitched his tent in Mount 
Gilead ; Laban and his brethren pitched theirs 
there also. 

Q. What reason did Jacob give his father- 
in-law, when he asked, why he left secretly ? 

A. He said, Because I was afraid that thou 
might take by force thy daughters from me. 

Q. What did Laban search for among the 
goods of Jacob ? 

A. For his household gods, or idols. 

Q. What were these household gods ? 

A. We cannot answer as to Laban's, but 
we may be instructed by an individual ap- 
plication of the fact spiritually. 
6 



62 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. In what way ? 

A. If we believe it to be wrong that idols 
should be kept in any household, we have 
need to search our own hearts that none 
may be secreted there. 

Q. In what way could we secrete idols in 
our hearts ? 

A. An idol is anything which usurps the 
place of the great I AM, in the hearts of his 
rational family, or upon which our affections 
are unduly placed. 

Q. Can you remember a caution of an in- 
spired writer on this subject? 

A. John, called the divine, said, "Little 
children, keep yourselves from idols." 

Q. What did Jacob say should be the pen- 
alty, if the household gods were found ? 

A. Jacob knew not that Rachel had taken 
them, and said, With whom they are found, 
let him not live. 

Q. Where did Eachel secrete them ? 

A. Among the camel's furniture, and she 
sat upon them. 

Q. Did her father discover them ? 

A. No ; he searched but did not find them. 

Q. Did it displease Jacob that he was 
judged of taking that which did not belong 
to him? 

A. He was much displeased, and recounted 



Jacob's return. 63 

to Laban his twenty years service, and how 
the Lord had prospered him, although Laban 
had dealt hardly by him. 

Q. How did the interview end ? 

A. Laban proposed that a covenant should 
be made between Jacob and himself. 

Q. For what was this covenant designed ? 

A. As a witness that harmony was restored^ 
and that they should no more trespass one 
upon another, but that they should exercise 
righteous judgment. 

Q. How was this covenant sealed ? 

A. By making an altar and sacrificing 
upon it. 

Q. Did Laban and his friends tarry all 
night ? 

A. They remained till morning, when La- 
ban kissed and blessed his children, and they 
departed. 

Q. Did Jacob continue his journey ? 

A. Jacob went on his way attended by 
feelings of a heavenly nature, and he sent 
messengers to inform his brother Esau that 
he was coming. 

Q. What word did these men bring when 
they returned ? 

A. That Esau was coming to meet Jacob 
with four hundred men. 

Q. How did Jacob feel when he heard 
this? 



64 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. He was greatly afraid and distressed, 
fearing his brother retained his enmity to- 
ward him. 

Q. What did he do in this strait? 

A. Jacob divided the people who were with 
him, and his flocks, his herds and camels, into 
two bands, so that if Esau captured one 
band, the other might escape. 

Q. Where did Jacob look for deliverance ? 

A. He made a touching appeal to the God 
of his fathers, and said, I am not worthy of 
the least of all Thy mercies and of all the 
truth which Thou hast shewed unto thy ser- 
vant ; for with my staff I passed over this 
Jordan, and now I am become two bands. 
Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my 
brother, for I fear lest he will smite me and 
the mother with the children. 

Q. What course did Jacob pursue to ap- 
pease his brother? 

A. He separated a handsome present from 
his possessions, and sent them to Esau by his 
servants. 

Q. How did he dispose of his family ? 

A. He sent his two wives, the two women- 
servants, and eleven sons, across the brook 
Jabbok. 

Q. What happened to Jacob after he was 
left alone ? 



Jacob's return. 65 

A. It is stated that he wrestled with a man 
till the break of day, and prevailed not ; and 
when the day broke, the man said, Let me go, 
for the day breaketh. 

Q. Did Jacob let him go ? 

A. Jacob answered and said, I will not let 
thee go except thou bless me. 

Q. Did he receive the blessing ? 

A. Yes. He was asked his name, and 
when he said Jacob, the man replied, thou 
shalt no more be called Jacob, but Israel, for 
as a prince hast thou power with God and 
with men, and thou hast prevailed. 

Q. What do you suppose was the reason 
for changing Jacob's name? 

A. The name Jacob implies, he that sup- 
plants, or undermines, — and Jacob having 
atoned for the indiscretions of his youth, 
and become a righteous and powerful man, 
he should now be called Israel, which signi- 
fies a prince with God, or one that wrestles, 
and prevails. 

Q. Did Jacob ask the name of him with 
whom he struggled ? 

A. He did; and was answered, Where- 
fore dost thou ask after my name ? And 
Jacob was then blessed. 

Q. What instruction may be drawn from 
6* 



66 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

the account of Jacob's wrestling with the 
man? 

A. We are sometimes left alone spiritually; 
and in order to obtain the divine blessing, it 
is necessary that we should wrestle with 
whatever stands in the way of our receiv- 
ing it. 

Q. "What does the breaking of the day sig- 
nify? 

A. We must patiently struggle through 
the night, or until the breaking of the day, 
by which we understand, until the light 
breaks in upon the spirit, and through this 
medium we receive the blessing. 

Q. What did Jacob name the spot made 
memorable by the occurrence above related? 

A. He called it Peniel; for, said he, "I 
have seen God face to face, and my life has 
been preserved." 

Q. At Esau's approach, what precautions 
did Jacob take ? 

A. When he saw Esau coming with his four 
hundred men, he divided the children among 
the women, and placed the handmaids and 
their children first, Leah and her children 
after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 

Q. Did Jacob go before his family ? 

A. He went before them, and bowed him- 
self seven times, until he came near his 
brother. 



JACOB AND ESAU. 67 

Q. How did Esau meet his brother ? 

A. He ran to meet him — fell on his neck, 
and kissed him ; and they wept. 

Q. What did he ask respecting the women 
and children ? 

A. He asked who they were ; — after he 
was told, they drew near and bowed them- 
selves before Esau. 

Q. Did Esau receive the presents sent him 
by his brother? 

A. He declined them, saying he had enough, 
and would rather Jacob would keep them. 

Q. Did Jacob consent to this ? 

A, He said, " Nay, I pray thee, if I have 
found grace in thy sight, receive my present, 
for I have seen thy face as though I had 
seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased 
with me." Being urged, Esau accepted it. 

Q. What did Jacob mean when he said, I 
have seen thy face as though I had seen the 
face of God? 

A. No doubt Jacob had expected to see 
depicted upon the countenance of Esau, the 
animosity and displeasure which his brother 
had felt toward him, when he fled from his 
father's house; and when instead of this, he 
was met with tenderness and affection, the 
joy and happiness which filled his heart was 
comparable to that which flowed from a com- 



68 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

munion with his heavenly Father, so that he 
could say, " I have seen thy face as though 
I had seen the face of God." 

Q. Did Jacob and Esau journey together? 

A. 'No ; Jacob proposed that Esau should 
go before, and he would lead on softly as the 
children and cattle were able. 

Q. In what way did Esau show considera- 
tion for his brother ? 

A. By proposing to leave some of his peo- 
ple to accompany Jacob. 

Q. Did Jacob accept this escort ? 

A. He felt he did not need it, and preferred 
ending his journey as he had begun. 

Q. Did Jacob build a house not far from 
this place ? 

A. At Succoth, near the river Jordan, Jacob 
built a house and made booths for his cattle. 

Q. At what other place did Jacob tarry 
for a short time? 

A. He bought a parcel of ground near the 
city of Sachem. He did not remain long 
here, but passed on to Bethel, the spot where 
he first erected an altar in his flight from 
Esau. 

Q. What did Jacob require of his family 
as they were setting out for Bethel ? 

A. That they should place in his hands all 
their strange gods, and all their earrings 
which were in their ears. 



DEATH OF RACHEL. 69 

Q. What did Jacob do with them ? 

A. He hid them under an oak near She- 
chem. 

Q. After arriving at Bethel, what did Ja- 
cob do ? 

A. He built an altar and called the place 
El-bethel, because there God appeared unto 
him when he fled from the face of his brother. 

Q. Who was buried near this spot ? 

A. Deborah, Rebecca's nurse, who came 
with her from her father's house. She was 
buried under an oak near Bethel. 

Q. Was Jacob conscious of a renewed 
blessing at this time ? 

A. The Scripture says, God appeared again 
unto him and blessed him, and told him that 
he should not be called Jacob any more, but 
that Israel should be his name ; that he should 
be fruitful and multiply, and that he should 
be the father of many nations. 

Q. What was said to him of the land of 
his fathers ? 

A. The land that had been given Abraham 
and Isaac was given to Israel. 

Q. What occurred which occasioned Jacob ' 
great sorrow about this time ? 

A. His beloved wife Eachel died after 
naming her infant Benoni, which being inter- 
preted, means, the son of my sorrow ; but 



70 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Jacob called him Benjamin, the son of my 
right hand. 

Q. Where was Eachel buried ? 

A. In the way to Ephrath, which is Beth- 
lehem. 

Q. How was her grave marked? 

A. Jacob set a pillar upon it. 

Q. Did Jacob see his father Isaac? 

A. Yes ; he came unto his father at Mamre. 

Q. How old was Isaac when he died? 

A. He was an hundred and fourscore 
years ; and he was buried by his sons Esau 
and Jacob. 

Q. Did another calamity befal Jacob, be- 
side the death of Eachel, soon after he re- 
turned to Canaan ? 

A. His beloved son Joseph was sold into 
bondage by his brethren. 

Q. What occasioned this unnatural act on 
the part of Joseph's brothers ? 

A. Their father loved Joseph more than all 
his children, which caused them to dislike 
him so much that they could not speak 
peaceably unto him. 

Q. Is there another reason given for their 
envy ? 

A. Joseph had two significant dreams, 
which he told his father and his brethren. 

Q. What were these dreams ? 



JOSEPH. 71 

A. In the first, he and his brethren were 
binding sheaves in a field and his sheaf arose 
and stood upright, and their sheaves stood 
round about and made obeisance to his sheaf. 

Q. And what was the second? 

A. He beheld the sun and moon and stars, 
and they made obeisance unto him. 

Q. What did his father say when Joseph 
repeated this dream unto him? 

A. He rebuked him, and said, " Shall I and 
thy mother and thy brethren indeed come 
to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth ?" 

Q. What effect had these dreams upon his 
father ? 

A. While they occasioned his brethren to 
hate him, his father observed the saying. 



CHAPTEE IT. 

Joseph — pharaoh's dream — years op 

plenty and famine joseph's brethren 

— Israel's removal to egypt. 

Question. How old was Joseph at this time ? 

Answer. About seventeen years old; and he 
and Benjamin were the only sons of their 
mother Eachel. 

Q. How could his brethren sell him with- 
out the knowledge of their father ? 

A. Joseph had been sent by Israel their 
father to see whether it was well with his 
brethren and their flocks. 

Q. Did he find them at Shechem ? 

A. No ; when he came, they were not 
there ; and as he wandered in a field, he met 
a man who asked him what he sought ? 

Q. Could the stranger tell him where his 
brethren had gone ? 

A. He told him he had heard them say, 
Let us go to Dothan. 

Q. Did Joseph follow after them ? 

A. Joseph went to Dothan, and when his 
brethren saw him coming, they were vexed 

(72) 



JOSEPH. 73 

and said one to another, Behold the dreamer 
cometh ! 

Q. What did they propose to do ? 

A. They concluded to slay him and throw 
him into a pit, and say some evil beast had 
devoured him ; And then, said they, we shall 
see what will become of his dreams. 

Q. Why did they not execute this plan ? 

A. Eeuben heard it and said, Let us not 
kill him ; shed no blood, but throw him into 
this pit that is in the wilderness. 

Q. Was it more merciful to consign him to 
a lingering death, than to have killed him at 
once ? 

A. It would seem not; but the sequel 
teaches that deliverance may come in an un- 
expected manner, and Eeuben may have- 
desired to release Joseph from his brethren. 

Q. Well, what further came upon Joseph? 

A. When Joseph reached his brethren, 
they stript off his coat of many colors, which 
had been given him by his father as a special 
gift, and threw him into an empty pit. 

Q. What was the next act of these cruel 
brothers ? 

A. They sat down to eat bread ; and while 

they were eating, a company of Ishmaelites, 

who l^ad their camels loaded with spices r 

myrrh, and balm, and who were going from 

7 



74 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Gilead to Egypt, came into view • and they 
took Joseph from the pit and sold him to them. 

Q. Which of the brothers proposed releas- 
ing Joseph from the pit and selling him to 
the Ishmaelites? 

A. Judah, who no doubt was suffering un- 
der a sense of their wrong-doing, said, " What 
profit is it if we slay our brother and con- 
ceal his blood. Come sell him to the Ish- 
maelites and let not our hand be upon him, 
for he is our brother and our flesh." 

Q. How much did these hard-hearted men 
receive as the price of their brother ? 

A. The Ishmaelites gave twenty pieces of 
silver, and took Joseph and brought him into 
Egypt. 

Q. What further act of duplicity did 
Joseph's brethren conceive ? 

A. They killed a kid and dipped Joseph's 
coat in the blood and then presented it to 
their father, saying, Know now, whether it 
be thy son's coat or no. 

Q. Did the father recognize the coat ? 

A. He knew it and exclaimed, It is my 
son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; 
Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. 

Q. What outward manifestation did Israel 
give of his grief? 

A. He rent his clothes and put sackcloth 



JOSEPH. 75 

upon his loins, and mourned for his son many 
days. 

Q. Did his children try to comfort him ? 

A. His sons and daughters all rose up to 
comfort him, but he refused to be comforted, 
saying, I will go down into the grave unto 
my son mourning. 

Q. What did the Midianites or Ishmaelites 
(they being one people) do with Joseph 
after taking him to Egypt ? 

A. They sold him to Potiphar, who was 
an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the 
guard. 

Q. Was Potiphar pleased with Joseph, and 
how did he treat him? 

A. Joseph found grace in the eyes of his 
master, because he was a righteous man, and 
performed his duty faithfully; he therefore 
made him ruler over all that he had, and 
knew nothing of anything save the bread 
which he ate. 

Q. Did Joseph receive proofs of divine ap- 
probation in the management of his affairs ? 

A. Yes. He was made to prosper in all 
that he did. 

Q. Did this state of things continue? 

A. No ; false accusations were brought 
against Joseph, and he was cast into prison. 

Q. Did Joseph feel himself shut out from 



76 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

the presence of his heavenly Father while in 
prison ? 

A " The Lord was with Joseph, and 
showed him mercy, and gave him favor in 
the sight of the keeper of the prison." 

Q. In what way did the keeper of the 
prison manifest his confidence in Joseph? 

A. By placing under his care all the pris- 
oners, and giving him charge of all that was 
done in prison. 

Q. What reason was given for this? 

A. " Because the Lord was with Joseph, 
and that which he did was made to prosper. 

Q. What occurred which brought Joseph 
more especially into notice while in prison ? 

A. Two of the officers of Pharaoh, his 
butler and baker, had offended him, and they 
were imprisoned, and placed in the same 
ward with Joseph, and the captain of the 
guard gave them in charge of Joseph. 

Q. In what way did Joseph serve them? 

A. He saw them one morning looking 
very sad, and asked them the cause ; they 
replied, they had dreamed a dream, and 
there was no interpreter of it. 

Q. What did Joseph say to this? 

A. He said, Do not interpretations belong 
to God ? — tell them to me, 1 pray you. 

Q. Did they do so? 






JOSEPH IN PRISON. 77 

A. The chief butler told his dream, and 
Joseph interpreted it favorably, telling him 
it signified his restoration in three days to 
his former place in Pharaoh's house. 

Q. What request did Joseph make of the 
chief butler when he should be again re- 
stored to his place? 

A. He asked the butler when it should be 
well with him to remember him with kind- 
ness, for he had been stolen out of the land 
of the Hebrews, and had done nothing that 
he should be put into the dungeon. 

Q. Did the chief baker tell his dream to 
Joseph ? 

A. When he perceived that the interpreta- 
tion of his fellow-prisoner's dream was favor- 
able, he told his also. 

Q. What was Joseph's interpretation of it ? 

A, That in Jfchree days Pharaoh would 
cause him to be hung upon a tree. 

Q. Did these things come to pass as Jo- 
seph had predicted ? 

A. It came to pass in three days, which 
was Pharaoh's birth-day, that he made a 
feast to all his servants, and restored the 
butler unto his butlership, but he hanged the 
chief baker. 

Q. Did the butler remember the request 
of Joseph when he was restored to favor? 
7* 



78 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. He did not remember Joseph. 

Q. In what way then was Joseph released 
from prison ? 

A. In "two full years" after this time 
Pharaoh had two dreams which troubled 
him, and he sent for all the wise men and 
the magicians of Egypt, but there were none 
who could interpret them. 

Q. Did this circumstance remind the chief 
butler of his neglect? 

A. Yes. He then thought of Joseph, and 
told Pharaoh of what had occurred when he 
was in prison, and how admirably Joseph's 
interpretations of his and the chief baker's 
dreams had been verified. 

Q. Did this induce the king to send for 
Joseph ? 

A. He sent, and brought Joseph hastily 
out of the dungeon, and communicated his 
dreams unto him. 

Q. What answer did Joseph give Pharaoh ? 

A. He said, " It is not in me. God shall 
give Pharaoh an answer of peace." 

Q. Can you tell what Joseph thought the 
dreams signified ? 

A. He interpreted the first dream as mean- 
ing, that there would be seven years of great 
plenty throughout all the land of JEg3^pt; 






pharaoh's dreams. 79 

and the second indicated a famine, which 
should consume the land. 

Q. What reason did he give for Pharaoh's 
having two dreams ? 

A. Because the thing was established by 
God, and He would shortly bring it to pass. 

Q. Did Joseph tell Pharaoh how he should 
prepare for these visitations ? 

A. He advised him to appoint officers over 
the country, and gather corn and food from 
one-fifth of the land, and store it away for 
the time of need. 

Q. Did the king approve this plan ? 

A. He said, " Can we find such an one as 
this is, — a man in w T hom the spirit of God 
is?" 

Q. "What did he say to Joseph ? 

A. Forasmuch as God hath showed thee 
all this, there is none so discreet and wise as 
thou art ; thou shalt be over my house, and 
according unto thy word shall all my people 
be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater 
than thou. 

Q. What mark of special regard did he 
give Joseph ? 

A. He took off his ring from his hand, and 
put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him 
in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain 
about his neck; and made him to ride in the 



80 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

second chariot which he had, and they cried 
before him, Bow the knee. 

Q. With what additional power did he in- 
vest Joseph ? 

A. He said, I am Pharaoh, and without 
thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in 
all the land of Egypt. 

Q. Whom did he wish Joseph to marry? 

A. Asenath, the daughter of Poti-pherah, 
priest of On. 

Q. What was the age of Joseph when he 
was made ruler over Egypt ? 

A. He was thirty years old. 

Q. What did Joseph call his two sons? 

A. The first-born he called Manasseh, and 
the second he called Ephraim. 

Q. Did the prediction of the seven years 
of plenty come to pass ? 

A. Yes; and it is written Joseph gathered 
corn as the sand of the sea, until he left 
numbering, for it was without number. 

Q. Did the famine follow? 

A. That came also; and there was dearth 
in all lands, but in the land of Egypt there 
was bread. 

Q. What did Pharaoh say unto the people 
who " cried" to him for bread ? 

A. "Go unto Joseph; what he saith to 
you, do." 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. 81 

Q. How did Joseph receive them? 

A. He opened all the store-houses, and 
sold unto the Egyptians ; and all Countries 
came into Egypt to buy corn, because the 
famine was sore in the land. 

Q. Did Jacob and his family suffer from 
the famine ? 

A. They were in great need, and Jacob 
said to his sons, Why do ye look one upon 
another? I have heard there was corn in 
Egypt ; get you down thither, and buy us 
from thence, that we may live and not die. 

Q. What do you suppose caused them to 
look one upon another, instead of going at 
once to Egypt to buy corn when they were 
suffering ? 

A. It is reasonable to suppose they remem- 
bered that they had sold their brother to a 
company of men who were on their way to 
Egypt, and that they felt a reluctance to go 
to a place the very thought of which, was 
filled with unpleasant associations. 

Q. Did they go? 

A. Yes ; ten of them went to purchase food. 

Q. Why did they not all go ? 

A. Jacob sent not Benjamin Joseph's bro- 
ther, " peradventure mischief might befal 
him." 

Q. Did Joseph know his brethren? 



82 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. Yes ; when he saw them he knew them. 

Q. When Joseph's brethren came before 
him, what posture did they assume? 

A. They bowed down their faces to the 
earth. 

Q. Would this circumstance be likely to 
remind Joseph of his dream, which so offend- 
ed his brethren ? 

A. It seemed like a fulfilment of it. 

Q, What was that dream ? 

A. He thought he and his brethren were 
binding sheaves in a field, and his sheaf 
arose and stood upright, and their sheaves 
stood round about, and made obeisance to his 
sheaf. 

Q. Joseph had another dream j do you re- 
member it? 

A. He dreamed that the sun, moon, and 
eleven stars made obeisance to him. 

Q. How did Joseph receive his brethren ? 

A, He spake roughly unto them, and said 
" Ye are spies ; to see the nakedness of the 
land ye are come." 

Q. What was their reply? 

A. They said, Nay, my lord, but to buy 
food are thy servants come ; we are true 
men and no spies. Thy servants are twelve 
brethren, the sons of one man, and behold, 
the youngest is this day with our father, and 
one is not. 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. 83 

Q. In what way did Joseph prove them ? 

A. He said, Hereby shall ye be proved : ye 
shall not go hence except your young bro- 
ther come hither. And he cast them into 
prison for three days. 

Q. Did they then go for Benjamin ? 

A. After the space of three days, Joseph 
said unto them, " This do and live, for I fear 
God; if ye be true men, let one of your bre- 
thren be bound in prison, and go ye and 
carry corn for the famine of your houses; and 
bring me your youngest brother, and ye 
shall not die.' , 

Q. In what way did they express their 
feelings to each other, when they were on 
their way to bring Benjamin? 

A. " They said one unto another, We are 
verily guilty concerning our brother in that 
we saw the anguish of his soul, when he be- 
sought us, and we would not hear; there- 
fore is this distress come upon us." 

Q. What remark did Eeuben make ? 

A. Eeuben said, "Spake I not unto you, 
saying, Do not sin against the child, and ye 
would not hear; therefore behold, also his 
blood is required." 

Q. Did they suspect that he of whom they 
bought corn was their brother? 

A. They had no idea of it; he spake to 



84 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

them through an interpreter, and they did 
not know*him. 

Q. Could Joseph command his feelings as 
he stood before his brethren? 

A. He was greatly moved, and turned 
from them and wept; he then returned and 
communed with them, and took Simeon, and 
bound him before them. 

Q. Did Joseph give particular directions 
about filling their sacks? 

A. He commanded them to be filled with 
corn, and that every man's money should be 
placed in his sack, and that provisions should 
be furnished them for their journey. 

Q. Did any of them discover the money 
before getting home? 

A. One of them opened his sack to give 
provender to his ass, and espied his money. 

Q. Was he frightened when he saw it? 

A. He told his brethren what he had found, 
and they were all afraid, and said one unto 
another, " What is this that God hath done 
unto us?" 

Q. Why did they suppose that all their 
trouble was brought upon them by the Lord ? 

A. They knew, as they themselves had 
said, that they "were verily guilty concern- 
ing their brother," and felt they had incurred 
the displeasure of their Father in Heaven, 



Joseph's brethren. 85 

and might not yet have realized that wick- 
edness ever brings its own punishment. 

Q. Did they acquaint their father with all 
that had befallen them ? 

A. They told him all : how the man spoke 
roughly unto them, and accused them of be- 
ing spies ; and they told him they were true 
men and not spies ; and that to prove they 
were true, he had required them to bring 
Benjamin to him. 

Q. Upon emptying their sacks, what did 
they discover ? 

A. They found that not only one had his 
money restored, but that every man's money 
was in his sack. 

Q. Were they pleased to find that they 
had been thus favored? 

A. Great consternation prevailed, and their 
poor father exclaimed, " Me ye have bereaved 
of my children. Joseph is not, and Simeon is 
not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all 
these things are against me." 

Q. What promise did they make to their 
father, if he would suffer Benjamin to go 
with them? 

A. Eeuben said, if he would allow him to 
go, he would certainly bring him back ; and 
as proof of his sincerity, added, If I bring 
him not back, " slay my two sons." 
8 



86 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Did Jacob yield to their wishes? 

A. He still refused, saying. His brother is 
dead, and he is left alone; if mischief befal 
him, ye will bring down my gray hairs with 
sorrow to the grave. 

Q. Did they continue to importune their 
father? 

A. It would seem not. After they had 
consumed the corn they had brought, and 
were again in want, their father urged them 
to go for more. They then said, If thou wilt 
send our brother with us, we will go down 
and buy food ; and if not, we will not go, for 
the man said, Unless your brother be with 
you, ye shall not see my face. 

Q. Did their father chide them for telling 
the man that they had yet a brother? 

A. Israel said, "Why did ye deal so ill 
with me, as to tell the man ye had yet a 
brother?" 

Q. How did they answer this question ? 

A. They replied, " that the man asked 
them straitly of our state and of our kin- 
dred, saying, Is your father yet alive ? have 
ye another brother?" and we told him ac- 
cordingly, not knowing that he would say, 
bring your brother down. 

Q. What proposition did Judah make con- 
cerning Benjamin? 



ISRAEL LETS BENJAMIN DEPART. 87 

A. He begged his father to send Benjamin 
with them, and he would be surety for him. 
If he would do so, they would at once go for 
food, that they and their little ones might 
live ; and if he did not bring Benjamin back, 
the blame should rest with him forever. 

Q. What did Israel say to this ? 

A. If it must be so, do this ; carry a present 
to the man, take the best fruits in the land 
in your vessels, — a little balm, a little honey, 
spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds, — take 
double the money in your sacks, and the 
money that you found in your sacks, lest it 
might have been an oversight, and take your 
brother, and arise and go to the man. 

Q. Did Israel give evidence of deep feeling 
after having consented to let his youngest 
son go ? 

A. His language was, "God Almighty give 
you mercy before the man, that he may send 
away your other brother and Benjamin. If 
I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." 

Q. What did Joseph say when he saw Ben- 
jamin with his brethren ? 

A. When Joseph saw Benjamin with his 
brethren, he told the ruler of his house to 
bring them home, and slay and make ready, 
for they were to dine with him. 



00 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Did his brethren feel at ease when they 
were brought into Joseph's house ? 

A. They were afraid they were to be ar- 
raigned because of the money that they 
found in their sacks, and told the steward, 
as they entered the door, how much surprised 
they were to find it, and they had brought it 
with them. 

Q. Did he quiet their fears ? 

A. The steward said to them, " Peace be 
to you — fear not — your God and the God 
of your fathers hath given you treasure; I 
had your money." And he brought Simeon 
in to them. 

Q. What hospitalities did he offer them as 
they entered the house ? 

A. He furnished them with water to wash 
their feet, and gave their asses provender. 

Q. When Joseph came in, what happened ? 

A. His brethren, when they heard they 
were to dine with him, had made ready their 
present; and when he came, they offered it, 
and bowed themselves to the earth before 
him. 

Q. What did Joseph say to them ? 

A. He asked of their welfare, and said, Is 
your father well — the old man of whom you 
spake ; is he yet alive ? 

Q. How did they answer him ? 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. 89 

A. They answered, Our father, thy ser- 
vant, is in good health. And they bowed 
down their heads and made obeisance. 

Q. What notice did he take of Benjamin ? 

A. He asked, Is this your younger brother, 
of whom ye spake unto me ? And he said, 
God be gracious unto thee my son. 

Q. Was Joseph affected by the presence 
of his brother? 

A. He made haste, for his heart yearned 
towards his brother, and he sought a place 
to weep, and he entered into his chamber 
and wept there. After which, he washed his 
face, and refrained from weeping, and said, 
Set on bread. 

Q. Did they all sit down at one table ? 

A. In accordance with the custom of Egypt, 
they placed the food of Joseph by itself, and 
the Egyptians who were with them ate by 
themselves ; for it w 7 as considered an abomi- 
nation for Egyptians to eat with Hebrews. 

Q. How were Joseph's brethren arranged 
at table ? 

A. The first-born according to his birth- 
right, and the youngest according to his 
youth. 

Q. What did they think of this arrange- 
ment ? 

A. They marvelled at it. 
8* 



90 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Did Joseph send them provision from 
his table ? 

A. Yes ; he " sent messes unto them from 
before him, but Benjamin's mess was five 
times as much as any of theirs." 

Q. What directions did Joseph give his 
steward in relation to the return of his 
brethren ? 

A. He told him to fill the men's sacks with 
food, as much as they could carry, and to 
put every man's money into his sack. 

Q. Did he direct anything more should be 
put in Benjamin's sack ? 

A. He said, In the sack of the youngest 
put my cup, my silver cup, besides his corn- 
money. 

Q. How long did his brethren tarry with 
him? 

A. As soon as it was light in the morning, 
they started homeward. 

Q. By what authority were they brought 
back? 

A. After they left the city, Joseph sent 
his steward to bring them back, and to in- 
quire of them why they had rewarded evil 
for good. 

Q. What reply did they make to this 
charge ? 

A. They were amazed and said, God for- 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. 91 

bid that thy servants should do according to 
this thing. They reminded the steward that 
they had returned the money which they 
found in their sacks after getting home, and 
queried, how then should they steal out ol 
his lord's house silver or gold ! 

Q. What proof did they give of their inno- 
cency? 

A. So sure were they of this, they said 
that with whomsoever the cup should be 
found, let him die, and we also will be thy 
lord's bondmen. 

Q. Did they make search for the silver 
cup? 

A. Yes; the steward, in accordance with 
their wishes, began with the eldest, and said 
that he with whom it was found should be 
his servant, but the rest should be blameless. 

Q. Did he find it? 

A. After searching all the rest, he came to 
Benjamin's sack, and there the cup was 
found. 

Q. What did these poor men do? 

A. They rent their clothes, and laded every 
man his ass and returned to the city. 

Q. What befel them there ? 

A. They went at once to Joseph's house, 
for he was still there, and fell before him on 
the ground. 



92 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. What did Joseph say to them ? 

A. He said, What deed is this that ye have 
done ; wot ye Dot that such a man as I can 
certainly divine ? 

Q. How could so good a man as Joseph 
practise deceit? 

A. It may have been that, in Joseph's de- 
sire to know if his brethren would leave 
Benjamin in bondage and thus deprive their 
father of both his favorite sons, he took this 
method to try them. 

Q. But would this excuse duplicity ? 

A. The sequel so clearly sets forth the 
kind and tender feelings of Joseph for his 
family, that we may not judge him of an in- 
tention to do wrong, even though we may 
feel the force of the adage, Never do evil that 
good may come. 

Q. Which of Joseph's brothers replied to 
him? 

A. Judah answered, What shall we say 
tmto my lord ? what shall we speak ? or 
how shall we clear ourselves? God hath 
found out our iniquity; behold, we are thy 
servants, both we and he with whom the 
cup is found. 

Q. Did Joseph receive them all as bond- 
men? 

A. He said, Nay, but the man in whose 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. 93 

hand the cup is found shall be my servant; 
and as for you, get you in peace unto your 
father. 

Q. Did one of the brothers seem especially 
distressed at the decision of Joseph ? 

A. Judah was troubled and drew near to 
Joseph and told him how dear Benjamin was 
to their father, that he was the child of his 
old age, that his brother was dead, and that 
he alone was left of his mother. 

Q. Did he tell Joseph with what reluc- 
tance his father consented to Benjamin's 
coming with them ? 

A. Yes; he kept nothing from Joseph, and 
said, Seeing our father's life is bound up in 
the lad's life, if we return without him, he 
will die, and thy servants will have brought 
down the gray hairs of our father with sor- 
row to the grave. 

Q. Did Judah offer to remain in Benja- 
min's place ? 

A. He prayed Joseph to allow him to be 
his bondman instead of the lad, for he felt 
that he could not go to his father unless 
Benjamin was with him. 

Q. Did Joseph manifest any tenderness of 
spirit when thus appealed to ? 

A. He caused every man to go out from 
his presence, and he then made himself 



94 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

known unto his brethren. In doing so, he 
wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house 
of Pharaoh heard him. 

Q. In what way did he make himself 
known to his brethren ? 

A. He said, I am Joseph; doth my father 
yet live. 

Q. What did they say ? 

A. They were so troubled that they could 
not answer him ; but Joseph said, Come near 
me, I pray you; I am Joseph your brother, 
whom you sold into Egypt. 

Q. Did he endeavor to console them? 

A. He told them not to be grieved nor 
angry with themselves, for God did send 
him before them to preserve life. 

Q. Did he propose to his brethren to re- 
move to Egypt ? 

A. He bade them haste and bring his fa- 
ther, and their families, for there were yet 
five years of famine ; and he wanted them 
all near him. 

Q. What especial word did he send to 
Israel, his father? 

A. That he wanted him to come and dwell 
in the land of Goshen, with his children and 
his children's children, and his flocks and 
his herds; and that he would nourish him 
during the famine. 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. 95 

Q. Did he bid his brethren tell his father 
of the position he held in Egypt? 

A. He said, Tell my father of all my glory 
in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and 
haste and bring him hither. 

Q. Did he then embrace Benjamin? 

A. He fell upon his brother Benjamin's 
neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon 
his neck. 

Q. Did Joseph manifest affection for the 
rest of his brethren? 

A. He kissed all his brethren and wept 
upon them, and after that they talked with 
him. 

Q. Was Pharaoh pleased when he heard 
that Joseph's brethren were with him? 

A. He was well pleased, and his servants 
also. 

Q. What were the instructions he gave 
Joseph concerning his father and brethren? 

A. Pharaoh told Joseph to say to his bre 
thren, "This do ye; lade your beasts, and 
go get you unto the land of Canaan, and take 
your father and your households, and come 
unto me, and I will give you the good of the 
land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of 
the land." 

Q. Did Joseph do as Pharaoh directed him? 
A. He furnished the children of Israel with 



96 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

wagons as Pharaoh commanded, and not 
only gave them provisions for the way, but 
also gave them all a change of raiment. 

Q. Did he give Benjamin more than the 
rest? 

A. To Benjamin he gave three hundred 
pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. 

Q. What was his advice to his brethren 
when he parted with them ? 

A. He charged them saying, See that ye 
fall not out by the way. 

Q. Did their father believe them when 
they told him that " Joseph was yet alive"? 

A. No; Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed 
it not. 

Q. "What convinced him that they had seen 
their brother? 

A. When they told him all Joseph had 
said, and he saw the wagons, " his spirit re- 
vived/' and he said, It is enough ; Joseph my 
son is yet alive ; I will go and see him before 
I die. 

Q. Did Jacob and his family remove to 
Egypt? 

A. " Israel took his journey with all that 
he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered 
sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac." 

Q. Where is the city of Beersheba situated? 

A. In the southern extremity of what is 
called the Holy Land. 



Israel's visions. 97 

Q. We sometimes hear the expression 
from Dan to Beersheba ; what does that 
mean ? 

A. As Dan is a city in the northern ex- 
tremity, it denotes the whole extent of the 
land of promise. 

Q. What occurred to Israel in the night 
at Beersheba ? 

A. He had visions and heard his name 
called, and answered, Here am I; and then 
it is written, God said, I am the God of thy 
father ; fear not to go down to Egypt, for 
I will there make of thee a great nation. 

Q. How many were there in Jacob's house- 
hold ? 

A. "All the souls in the house of Jacob, 
that went into Egypt with him, were three- 
score and six." 

Q. Did Joseph go to meet his father? 

A. He made ready his chariot, and went 
to meet his father ; when he met him he fell 
)n his neck, and wept on his neck a good 
while. 

Q. What answer did Joseph propose to his 
brethren that they should give to Pharaoh 
when he asked them their trade ? 

A. He told them, when Pharaoh should 
ask, "what is your occupation ?" to say you 
are shepherds. 
9 



98 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Why did he wish them to say that they 
were shepherds. 

A. He wished them to dwell in the land 
of Goshen ; and the shepherds w T ere an abom- 
ination to the Egyptians ? 

Q. Was this their occupation? 

A. Their "trade" had been to feed cattle 
from their youth, both they and their 
fathers. 

Q. Did Joseph present his brethren to 
Pharaoh ? 

A. He took five of them, and presented 
them to the king. 

Q. Did the king seem friendly disposed 
toward them ? 

A. Yes; he told Joseph to give them the 
best of the land, to let them dwell in Goshen, 
and if there were any active men among 
them, to make them rulers over his cattle. 

Q. Can you describe the interview between 
Jacob and Pharaoh ? 

A. "Joseph brought in Jacob his father, 
and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob 
blessed Pharaoh." 

Q. What question did Pharaoh ask Jacob ? 

A. He said, How old art thou ? 

Q. Give Jacob's answer to the king. 

A. He replied, The days of my pilgrim- 
age are an hundred and thirty years; few 



FAMINE IN EGYPT. 99 

and evil have been the days of the years of 
my life, and have not attained to the days 
of the years of the life of nay fathers. And 
he blessed Pharaoh again and went out from 
before him. 

Q. Did the famine increase in the land ? 

A. It was very great in all the land ; and 
the people came to Joseph to buy bread. 

Q. What did they do when they no longer 
had money? 

A. They besought him to take their cattle. 

Q. Had they sufficient cattle to pay for all 
they required ? 

A. Joseph gave them bread in exchange 
for horses and cattle, flocks and herds; but 
after a time these failed also ? 

Q. What did they propose to Joseph, after 
that? 

A. That he should take their land; and 
he bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, 
except the lands of the priests. 

Q. Why were the lands of the priests ex- 
cepted ? 

A. These were excepted, because the 
priests had a portion assigned them by Pha- 
raoh. 

Q. After Joseph had bought all the land, 
what arrangement did he make with the 
people ? 



100 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. That they should sow the land and 
give the fifth part of the increase to Pha- 
raoh, and four parts should be theirs for food 
and for seed. 

Q. Were the people grateful for this provi- 
sion ? 

A. They said to Joseph, Thou hast saved 
our lives; let us find grace in thy sight, and 
we will be Pharaoh's servants. 

Q. Did Joseph make it a law over all the 
land, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth of 
the crops ? 

A. Yes ; it prevailed over all the land ex- 
cept that owned by the priests. 

Q. Were Jacob and his family prosperous ? 

A. They grew and multiplied exceedingly. 

Q. How long did Jacob live in Egypt? 

A. Seventeen years. 

Q. What request did he make of Joseph 
when he felt that the time drew near when 
he must die ? 

A. He called Joseph to him, and said, Bury 
me not in Egypt, I pray thee, but I would 
lie with my fathers, and bury me in their 
burying-place. 

Q. Did Joseph promise to do this ? 

A. He promised his father he would do as 
he wished. 

Q. After Israel was t^ken sick, what did 
Joseph do ? 



Joseph's children blessed. 101 

A. He brought his sons Manasseh and 
Ephraim to their grandfather for his blessing. 
Q. Could Israel see the sons of Joseph ? 

A, His eyes were dim from age, so that he 
could not see ; but he said, Bring them, I 
pray thee, unto me and I -will bless them. 

Q. Did Joseph present them according to 
their ages, as was the custom, the oldest first ? 

A. He brought them to his father, who 
embraced and kissed them. Manasseh he 
placed at the right hand of his father and 
Ephraim at the left. 

Q. What was there remarkable in the 
blessing which followed ? 

A. Israel stretched out his right hand and 
placed it upon Ephraim's head, and his left 
hand he put upon Manasseh's. 

Q. Did Joseph observe this ? 

A. Joseph saw it, and held up his father's 
hand to remove it from Ephraim's to Manas- 
seh's head, saying, Not so, my father, for this is 
the first-born: put thy right hand upon his head. 

Q. Did Israel refuse to do this ? 

A. He refused, saying, I know it, my son, 
I know it ; he also shall become a people, and 
he also shall be great, but truly his younger 
brother shall be greater than he. 

Q. What language did Israel use in blessing 
the children ? 
9* 



102 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. He first blessed Joseph, and then said, 
the God, before whom my fathers Abraham 
and Isaac did walk, the God who fed me all 
my life long unto this day, the angel which 
redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads ; and 
let my name be named on them, and the 
name of my fathers, Abram and Isaac, and 
let them grow into a multitude in the midst 
of the earth. 

Q. Did he say anything more concerning 
the children ? 

A. He said, " In thee shall Israel bless, 
saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as 
Manasseh, and he set Ephraim before Ma- 
nasseh." 

Q. Did he leave a larger inheritance to 
Joseph than his brethren ? 

A. He said to Joseph, Behold I die, but 
God shall be with you and bring you again 
unto the land of your fathers. I have given 
thee one portion above thy brethren, which 
I took out of the hand of the Amorite. 

Q. Did Israel have his other sons called 
together? 

A. He said, Gather yourselves together 
that I may tell you what shall befal you in 
the last days. 

Q. Did he predict what should come upon 
each of them ? 



ISRAEL PROPHESIES. 103 

A. As if he foresaw their future, he told 
each what should befall him. 

Q. Keuben and Judah have been spoken 
of as having been moved with sympathy for 
Joseph w^hen he was sold by his brethren; 
what did he say to them? 

A. To Keuben he said, Thou art my first 
born, my might, and the beginning of my 
strength, the excellency of dignity and the 
excellency of power; but, unstable as water, 
thou shalt not excel. 

Q. And what of Judah? 

A. " Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren 
shall praise. Thy hand shall be upon the 
neck of thine enemies. Thy father's children 
shall bow down before thee. The sceptre 
shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver 
from between his feet, until Shiloh come ; 
and unto him shall the gathering of the 
people be. 

Q. Can you tell what was said of Joseph ? 

A. Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruit- 
ful bough by a well, whose branches run 
over the wall. The archers have sorely 
grieved him, and shot at him and hated him, 
but his bow abode in strength and the arms 
of his hands were made strong by the hands 
of the mighty God of Jacob. 

Q. Was he to continue to be blessed ? 



104 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. Israel further said, The blessings of thy 
father have prevailed above the blessings of 
my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the 
everlasting hills. They shall be on the head 
of Joseph and on the crown of the head of 
him that was separate from his brethren. 

Q. Was Benjamin's portion equally pleas- 
ant? 

A. It was said, Benjamin shall raven as a 
wolf; in the morning he shall devour the 
prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. 

Q. Did Israel speak of his children as 
tribes ? 

A. He said, All these are the twelve tribes 
of Israel ; and their father spake to them, 
and blessed them, and requested, that when 
he was gathered to his people, that they 
should bury him in the cave of his kindred, 
where he had buried Leah. 

Q. Did he pass away at that time? 

A. After he made an end of commanding 
his sons, he gathered up his feet into the 
bed, and yielded up his spirit. 

Q. How old was Israel when he died ? 

A. An hundred and forty-seven years old. 

Q. Did Joseph and his brethren take the 
body of their father, and bury it as he re- 
quested? 

A. Joseph called the physicians, and had 



BURIAL OF ISRAEL. 105 

the body of his father embalmed ; and the 
Egyptians mourned for him threescore and 
ten days. 

Q. Did Joseph ask liberty of Pharaoh to 
carry his father to the cave of Machpelah ? 

A. He did; and Pharaoh not only con- 
sented, but the servants and elders of bis 
house, and the elders of Egypt, with their 
chariots and horsemen, and all the household 
of Jacob, except the little ones, went with 
him ; so that there was a very great com- 
pany. 

Q. Did Joseph and his brethren return to 
Egypt after they had buried their father? 

A. They all returned; and Joseph's breth- 
ren were now fearful that Joseph would re- 
quite them for the evil they had done him. 

Q. Was Joseph aware of their feelings ? 

A. They sent a messenger to Joseph, ask- 
ing his forgiveness. 

Q. What did Joseph do? 

A. He wept when they spake to him and 
fell down before him, saying, Behold, we are 
thy servants ; he bade them fear not, for he 
w r ould nourish them and their little ones. 
He spake kindly and comforted them. 

Q. How long did Joseph live ? 

A. He lived an hundred and ten years. 
He saw the children of Ephraim to the third 



106 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

generation ; and also held upon his knee the 
grandson of Manasseh. 

Q. What request did Joseph make of his 
brethren just before his death ? 

A, He said, God will surely visit you, and 
bring you out of this land unto the land of 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and when you 
go, carry up my bones from hence. 

Q. Did they embalm the body of Joseph ? 

A. Yes; his body was embalmed and put 
in a coffin in Egypt. 



CHAPTEE Y. 

pharaoh's daughter — moses — midian — 
burning bush aaron — pharaoh's re- 
fusal to release the israelites — 
their subsequent departure — pharaoh 
and his host destroyed. 

In our history we have reached the Book 
of Exodus — the second book of the Penta- 
teuch. 

Q. Do you know what the name signifies ? 



THE PENTATEUCH. 107 

A. Exodus is so called because it contains 
an account of the exodus or departure of the 
Israelites oat of Egypt. 

Q. What is the signification of Penta- 
teuch ? 

A, The first five books of the Bible, said 
to be written by Moses, are called the Penta- 
teuch. 

Q. Did the Israelites continue to prosper 
after the death of Joseph ? 

A. The Scripture says, They multiplied 
and waxed exceedingly mighty, and the land 
was filled with them. 

Q. How long did they continue prosperous? 

A. After the death of the brethren of Jo- 
seph, and all that generation had passed 
away, there arose a new king who knew 
not Joseph, and he became jealous of the Is- 
raelites. 

Q. In what way did he manifest his jeal- 
ousy ? 

A. He said unto his people, Behold the 
children of Israel are mightier than we ; let 
us deal wisely with them, lest if there should 
be a war, they might join our enemies and 
take possession of our land. 

Q. What means did they devise to bring 
the Israelites into bondage ? 



108 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. They set taskmasters over them, to 
afflict them with heavy burdens. 

Q. What effect did this produce ? 

A. The more they were afflicted the more 
they multiplied and grew ; but their lives 
were made bitter because of their hard 
bondage. 

Q. In what were they made to labor ? 

A. In mortar and in brick, and in all 
manner of service in the field, they were 
made to serve with rigor. 

Q. Were the Pyramids of Egypt built by 
the Israelites? 

A. They are supposed by some to have 
been erected by the Israelites during their 
bondage in Egypt. But there is no allusion 
to the Pyramids in the Bible, and modern 
researches assign them to a later period. 

Q. What did Pharaoh command should be 
done to diminish their numbers ? 

A. That every male child should be cast 
into the river, but the daughters should be 
saved alive. 

Q. Have we an account of one child that 
was preserved in a remarkable manner? 

A. Yes; the mother of Moses, after con- 
cealing him for three months, made an ark 
of bulrushes and daubed it with slime and 



PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER. 109 

pitch, and put her child in it, and laid it 
among the flags by the river's brink. 

Q. Did she place any one to watch what 
might befal him ? 

A. His sister stood afar off to see what 
should be done unto him. 

Q. Who came down to the river not long 
afterward ? 

A. Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe,, 
and her maidens walked along the river's side, 
and when she saw the ark among the flags,, 
she sent one of them to bring it to her. 

Q. How did she feel toward the child ? 

A. When she opened the ark, the child 
wept, and she had compassion on him, and 
said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. 

Q. What did she do with the babe? 

A. Moses' sister was standing near and 
asked if she should get a nurse among the 
Hebrew women to take care of the child for 
her? 

Q. Did the king's daughter approve of it? 

A. She said, Go; and the maid called her 
mother, and the princess gave the child into 
her care, saying, Nurse it for me, and I will 
give thee wages. 

Q. Did Pharaoh's daughter name the child ? 

A. It was she who first called him Moses,. 
because she "drew him out of the water." 
10 



110 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Did Moses continue in the court of 
Pharaoh after he was grown? 

A, Not long ; soon after he was grown, a 
circumstance occurred which occasioned Mo- 
ees to leave Egypt. 

Q. What was that circumstance ? 

A. He went out to his brethren, and saw 
their oppression ; he also saw an Egyptian 
smiting an Hebrew, and there being no one 
near, Moses took part with the Hebrew and 
slew the man and hid him in the sand. 

Q. Was not this act discovered ? 

A. When he went out on the second day, 
he saw two Hebrews quarrelling, and he said 
to him who was in the wrong, Wherefore 
smitest thou thy fellow? and the man replied, 
Who made thee a prince and a judge over us > 
intendest thou to kill me as thou killedst the 
Egyptian ? 

Q. What did Moses say ? 

A. He said, Surely this thing is known, 
and he was afraid. 

Q. Did Pharaoh hear of it ? 

A. Yes ; and sought to slay Moses. 

Q. How did Moses escape ? 

A. He fled from Pharaoh and dwelt in the 
land of Midian ; and he sat down by a well. 

Q. Where is Midian ? 

A. It is a country lying south-east of 
Canaan. 



MIDIAN. Ill 

Q. What is said of its inhabitants ? 

A. They were a commercial people, and 
traded with Egypt in spices, balm, &c. It 
was to a company of these merchants that 
Joseph's brethren sold him. 

Q. Does it not say, these were Ishmaelites? 

A. Yes; but in one place they are called 
Midianites, they being one people. 

Q. With whom did Moses meet at the 
well? 

A. The daughters of the priest of Midian. 

Q. How many daughters were there? 

A. There were seven; and when they 
brought their flocks to the well to water 
them, the shepherds drove them away; but 
Moses stood up and helped them to water 
their flocks, by which they were enabled to 
return home sooner than usual. 

Q. Did their father ask them how it was 
they came so soon ? 

A. Their father said to them, How is it 
that ye are come so soon to-day? and they 
told him that an Egyptian had delivered them 
from the shepherds and had watered their 
flocks for them. 

Q. Did he query with them concerning the 
Egyptian ? 

A. He said, Why is it that ye have left the 
man? call him, that he may eat bread. 



112 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Did Moses come to the house of the 
priest ? 

A. He came, and was contented to dwell 
there ; and he married Zipporah, one of the 
daughters. 

Q. Did Moses engage in any business? 
A. He kept the flocks of Jethro his father- 
in-law. 

Q. Where did he lead the flocks? 
A. To the back side of the desert, to Mount 
Horeb, which is called the Mountain of God. 
Q. What did Moses see here that was re- 
markable ? 

A. He saw a bush burned with fire, and 
it was not consumed; and he said, I will 
turn aside and see this great sight, why the 
bush is not burned. 

Q. Did he hear a voice calling him ? 
A. He heard a voice which said, Moses! 
Moses ! and he said, Here am I. 

Q. What voice was this which Moses heard, 
and what did it tell him? 

A. It was the voice of the Lord, who is a 
spirit, and it was therefore a spiritual voice, 
and it said unto Moses, Draw not nigh hither; 
put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the 
place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 
Q. What does the burning of the bush 
signify ? 



BURNING BUSH. 113 

A. We will first refer to the fact of Moses 
taking his flocks to the back side of the 
desert, which is figurative of a retired and 
solitary place. 

Q. How are we to be instructed by this 
circumstance ? 

A. The gathering of the flocks may repre- 
sent the centring of every faculty of the 
mind, producing an introversion, or quiet con- 
dition, in which may be heard the teachings 
of the " still small voice." 

Q. Was this the same voice that called to 
Moses ? 

A. No doubt of it \ for it is the voice of the 
Lord heard by the spiritual ear. 

Q. And what are we to understand by the 
bush w T hich was burned and not consumed? 

A. This may be compared to a manifesta- 
tion of the light of Christ, or word of God in 
man. The bush may represent a green or 
living product or shrub, which the fire or the 
word of the Lord would enkindle, and which 
w^ould burn or give light and warmth with- 
out diminution. 

Q. What was meant by the command to 
" put off thy shoes from off thy feet ?" 

A. In that day it was considered improper 
to wear shoes or sandals even in the house ; 
every traveller must leave them at the door 
10* 



114 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

and enter barefoot; so that Moses could un- 
derstand why he should put off his shoes, if 
the ground whereon he stood was holy 
ground. 

Q. In what way can we apply it ? 

A. We sometimes hear the figure used to 
illustrate the importance of putting aside our 
own wills or understanding, when the mind 
is visited by divine impressions, comparable 
to standing on holy ground, so that we may 
be prepared to yield obedience to divine re- 
quisitions. 

Q. What further was said to Moses on this 
memorable occasion ? 

A. We read that God made himself known 
to Moses on this occasion as the God of his 
fathers, and He told him that He had heard 
the cry of His people who were in Egyptian 
bondage ; and because of their hard task- 
masters He pitied them, and would bring 
them out of that land, into a good land 
which flowed with milk and honey. 

Q. Did He signify to Moses that He would 
make him instrumental in their deliverance? 

A. He told Moses that He would send him 
to Pharaoh, that he might bring forth the 
children of Israel out of Egypt. 

Q. Did Moses feel willing to undertake 
the mission? 



MOSES* MISSION. 115 

A. Moses said, Who am 1 that I should go 
unto Pharaoh? 

Q. Did Moses query what he should say, 
to convince the children of Israel that God 
had sent him ? 

A. Moses said, When I tell the children 
of Israel that the God of their fathers hath 
sent me, and they ask His name, what shall 
I say unto them? 

Q. What reply did Moses receive ? 

A. " God said unto Moses, I Am that I Am, 
and thus shalt thou say unto the children 
of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." 

Q. Did Moses receive further directions 
what to do ? 

A. He was told to gather the elders of 
Israel together, and tell them that He who 
had sent him had seen their afflictions, and 
was about to deliver them, and the people 
would believe him. And they then were to 
present themselves to the king, and ask him 
to let them go. 

Q. Was it said that the king would be 
willing ? 

A. No; God foresaw that Pharaoh would 
object, and because of this, Egypt would be 
visited with many plagues. 

Q. Did Moses set out on his mission at 
once? 



116 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. Moses hesitated ; he was sure the peo- 
ple would not believe him, nor hearken to 
his voice. 

Q. What proof was given him that they 
would ? 

A. It is said that the rod which was in the 
hand of Moses, when cast upon the ground, 
turned to a serpent, and Moses fled from it; 
he was told to take it up by the tail ; he 
caught it and it became a rod in his hand. 

Q. Was there another evidence furnished 
Moses of the power of the Spirit that was 
communing with him? 

A. It is recorded that the Lord said to 
Moses, Put thy hand into thine bosom; he 
did so, and when he took it out, his hand 
was leprous as snow 5 and he was told to put 
it in his bosom the second time, and when 
he drew it out, it was restored like the other. 

Q. What was the third sign that was to 
be given to the children of Israel, if the two 
which have been mentioned failed to convince 
them ? 

A. He was to take water of the river and 
pour it out on the dry land, and the water 
that was poured out should be changed to 
blood. 

Q. Is there spiritual teaching in these 
miracles which were shown Moses? 



SIGNS GIVEN TO MOSES. 117 

A. The rod that Moses held in his hand 
may be compared to the staff of faith, which, 
when cast aside or thrown on the ground, be- 
comes as a serpent which is twisting and 
twining in its character, and is to be shunned ; 
but when, at the divine command, we take 
up this serpent, it becomes again as a rod in 
the hand, upon which we may lean. 

Q. What does the putting of the hand in 
the bosom imply ? 

A. That if we are obedient to what is re- 
quired of us, although it may be as simple a 
thing as putting the hand in the bosom, we 
may be made witnesses of the power of the 
Highest, as Moses was. 

Q. What can be said of the third: the 
water from the river, that was to be poured 
on the ground ? 

A. This may be compared to an offering, 
which, though called for, may be felt to be as 
weak as water, but when in obedience to the 
still small voice it is poured upon the dry 
ground, it becomes changed as to blood, which 
is figurative of strength and life. 

Q. Was Moses now prepared to go into 
Egypt ? 

A. Moses still endeavored to excuse him- 
self, saying, I am not eloquent neither before 
nor since thou hast spoken to thy servant ; 



118 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

but I am slow of speech and of a slow 
tongue. 

Q. What rebuke did Moses receive ? 

A. "The Lord said unto him, Who hath 
made man's mouth? or who maketh the 
dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? 
Have not I, the Lord? Now go and I will 
be thy mouth and teach thee what thou shah 
say." 

Q. Was Moses still rebellious or wavering ? 

A. He replied, O my Lord, send, I pray 
thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt 
send. 

Q. Was the weakness of Moses conde- 
scended to ? 

A. Yes ; Aaron the brother of Moses, who 
spoke well, was permitted to go with him to 
be his spokesman. 

Q. What was said to Moses about it? 

A. The promise was, That the Lord would 
be with them ; that Aaron should be as 
mouth for Moses, and Moses should be 
Aaron's director; and that he should take 
his rod (his staff of faith) in his hand, 
" wherewith to do his signs." 

Q. What did Moses' father-in-law say to 
his going into Egypt? 

A. When Moses talked with him, he said, 
Go in peace. 



AARON. 119 

Q. Did Moses fear to meet the men from 
whom he fled when he came to Midian ? 

A. No ; he was assured his enemies were 
dead, and^he took his wife and his sons and 
put them upon an ass, and returned to the 
land of Egypt, taking " the rod of God in 
his hand." 

Q. Did Aaron go with Moses ? 

A. Moses went out into the wilderness and 
met Aaron in the Mount of God, and kissed 
him ; he told Aaron all the words which the 
Lord had given him, and they went and 
gathered the elders of the children of Israel. 

Q. Did they receive them ? 

A. Yes ; they and the people believed, 
and when they heard that the Lord had 
remembered them in their afflictions, they 
bowed their heads and worshipped. 

Q. How did Pharaoh receive them ? 

A. He said, Who is the Lord, that 1 should 
obey his voice to let Israel go ? I know not 
the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. 

Q. What did they ask of Pharaoh after 
this refusal ? 

A. That he would let them go into the 
wilderness, a three days' journey into the 
desert to sacrifice unto the Lord their God. 

Q. Did the king consent to this ? 

A. No; he told Moses and Aaron to get 



120 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

to their own burdens, and not take the 
people from their work. 

Q. Did he increase the burdens of the Is- 
raelites ? 

A. Instead of furnishing them with straw, as 
heretofore, to make brick, they were obliged 
to gather it for themselves, and to furnish as 
many bricks, or more than before. They 
were oppressed in every way. 

Q. Was there a reason given for increasing 
their labor ? 

A. They were charged with being idle, 
and, therefore dissatisfied and ready to listen 
to Moses and Aaron. 

Q. Did the people become dissatisfied with 
Moses and Aaron? 

A. The elders as they went out from Pha- 
raoh, met Moses and Aaron and said unto 
them, The Lord look upon you and judge. 
You have caused us to be abhorred in the 
eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his ser- 
vants, and he will put a sword in their hands 
to slay us. 

Q. What effect had this upon Moses ? 

A. He turned unto the Lord and said, 
Wherefore hast thou evil-entreated this peo- 
ple; why is it that thou hast sent me? for 
since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy 



MOSES REASSURED. 121 

name he hath done evil to this people; 
neither hast Thou delivered them ! 

Q. Was Moses reassured that he was 
acting in obedience to the divine mind? 

A. We read that God spake unto Moses, 
and testified " that unto Abraham, Isaac, and 
Jacob I was known by the name of God 
Almighty, but by my name Jehovah I was 
not known. I have also established my 
covenants with them, and I have heard the 
groanings of the children of Israel, whom the 
Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have re- 
membered my covenant." 

Q. What message did he give Moses for 
the Israelites ? 

A. He bade Moses say unto them that he 
would bring them out from under the bur- 
dens of the Egyptians into the land he had 
promised their fathers; that he would redeem 
them with a stretched-out arm, and with 
great judgments; and that he would take 
them for a people and he would be their God. 

Q. What is meant by Abraham, Isaac, and 
Jacob knowing the Lord as God Almighty, 
and not by his name Jehovah ? 

A. They knew him as a God of power and 
of covenants ; but as a self-existent and im- 
mutable God, as the name Jehovah implies, 
11 



122 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

they had not known him. He therefore de- 
clared unto Moses, I AM that I AM. 

Q. When Moses delivered the message he 
had received, did it increase the people's faith 
in him? 

A. They hearkened not unto him for 
anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage. 

Q. Was Moses discouraged ? 

A. He said, If the children of Israel 
hearken not unto me, how shall Pharaoh 
hear me who am of uncircumcised lips. But 
the Lord said unto Moses, Speak thou unto 
Pharaoh, king of Egypt, all that I say unto 
thee. 

Q. Was Pharaoh persuaded by what he 
heard to release the Israelites ? 

A. His determination to keep them seemed 
unmoved, but he asked of Moses and Aaron 
a miracle to show by what authority they 
made their request. 

Q. Did Moses perform a miracle ? 

A. No ; but Aaron on this occasion cast down 
his rod before Pharaoh, and it became a 
serpent. 

Q. Was Pharaoh astonished ? 

A. He called his wise men and magicians 
that they might do the same thing. 

Q. Could they turn their rods into ser- 
pents also? . 



PHARAOH WILL NOT YIELD. 123 

A. Yes; but it is said Aaron's rod swal- 
lowed up their rods. 

Q. Can this miracle be spiritually inter- 
preted ? 

A. We have heard it alluded to, as repre 
senting the superiority of Aaron's faith to 
that of the magicians. The serpents into 
which the rods had been changed may be 
used as the symbol of wisdom. Jesus said 
to his disciples, " Be ye wise as serpents ; " 
and Aaron's wisdom being superior to that 
of the magicians, he overcame them by it. 

Q. What was the visitation which next 
came upon Egypt ? 

A. The waters of Egypt were turned into 
blood, so that the fish died, and their streams 
became offensive. 

Q What did the Egyptians do for water 
to drink ? 

A. They digged round about the river for 
water to drink, until the seven days were 
fulfilled in which the waters were smitten. 

Q. Did Moses again appeal to Pharaoh ? 

A. Moses was commanded to go again to 
the king and say unto him, Let my people 
go, that they may serve me. 

Q. What was the penalty attached to his 
refusal ? 

A. That the rivers and streams and ponds 



124 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

should bring forth frogs, and that they would 
get into the houses and bed-chambers, and 
on the beds, and in their ovens and kneading- 
trough s. 

Q. When the frogs came, did Pharaoh re- 
lent? 

A. He sent for Moses and Aaron, and said, 
Entreat the Lord, that he may take away the 
frogs from me and my people, and I will let 
the people go, that they may sacrifice unto 
the Lord. 

Q. How did Moses answer this request ? 

A. Moses said, Be it according to thy word. 
The frogs shall depart from thee, that thou 
mayest know that there is none like unto the 
Lord our God. 

Q. Did the frogs depart, and did Pharaoh 
keep his word ? 

A. The frogs were taken away, but Pha- 
raoh's heart was still hard, and he would not 
let the people go. 

Q. What was the consequence of his con- 
tinued unwillingness to release them. 

A. Afflictions and diseases of various kinds 
came upon Egypt, enough, it would seem, to 
soften the hardest heart; but Pharaoh re- 
mained inexorable until the first-born of all 
the Egyptians was smitten. From the first- 
born of Pharaoh on his throne to the captive 



THE ISRAELITES DEPART. 125 

in the dungeon, none escaped; even the first- 
born of the cattle was smitten. 

Q. Were Pharaoh and the Egyptians then 
urgent for the Israelites to be gone ? 

A. They rose in the night, and called for 
Moses and Aaron, amid great lamentations ; 
for there was not a house where there was 
not one dead, and they bade them go forth 
with their people, their flocks and their 
herds, and serve the Lord as they wished. 

Q. Did Pharaoh ask for the blessing of 
Moses ? 

A. When he bade them be gone, he said, 
And bless me also. 

Q. How many Israelites went out from 
Egypt at this time? 

A. " Six hundred thousand on foot that 
were men, beside children. A mixed multi- 
tude also went with them, and flocks and 
herds, even very many cattle." 

Q. How long had the Israelites dwelt in 
Egypt? 

A. They had sojourned in Egypt four hun- 
dred and thirty years. 

Q. Was the night of their departure made 
memorable by the establishment of a cere- 
monial ? 

A. Yes ; the night was to be observed unto 
the Lord by the children of Israel in their 
11* 



126 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

generations, for bringing them out of the 
land of bondage; and the festival was called 
the Passover. 

Q. Was there an especial ordinance con- 
nected with this passover? 

A. No stranger should partake of it? 

Q. What is the signification of the word 
Passover? 

A. It implies a passing over. The name 
was chosen in commemoration of the Israel- 
ites having escaped the destroying angel, 
which smote the first-born of the Egyptians, 
but passed over the houses of the Hebrews. 

Q. Do the modern Jews continue to ob- 
serve the Passover? 

A. They do, continuing the feast of un- 
leavened bread seven days, in accordance 
with the command of Moses, that for seven 
days there should be no leavened bread found 
in their houses. 

Q. What direction did the Israelites take 
when they went out of Egypt? 

A. They went not through the land of the 
Philistines, although that was nearer, but 
*;ook their journey from Succoth to Etham. 

Q. Did they take the bones of Joseph with 
them ? 

A. Moses remembered the request of 
Joseph, and carried his bones with them. 



THE ISRAELITES GUIDED. 127 

Q. "What guided them in their path ? 

A. The Lord went before them by day in 
a pillar of a cloud, and by night in a pillar 
of fire to give them light. 

Q. What did Pharaoh do when he heard 
the Israelites had fled ? 

A. He regretted having consented to it, 
and took six hundred chosen chariots, and 
all the chariots of Egypt, with captains over 
every one of them, and pursued after them. 

Q. Where did Pharaoh and his army over- 
take them ? 

A. They were encamped by the sea. 

Q. Were they alarmed when they saw the 
great host of Pharaoh? 

A. They were sore afraid, and said unto 
Moses, Wherefore didst thou take us out of 
Egypt to die in the wilderness ; did we not 
tell thee to let us alone, that we might serve 
the Egyptians? 

Q. Did Moses endeavor to inspire them 
with confidence ? 

A. He said to the people, " Fear ye now, 
stand still, and see the salvation of God 
which he will show you to-day. The Egyp- 
tians which ye see to-day, ye shall see no 
more forever/' 

Q. In what way did Moses expect them to 
be delivered ? 



128 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. He told them to hold their peace ; that 
the Lord would deliver them. 

Q. How was their deliverance wrought? 

A. It is written, that the cloud which went 
before the camp of Israel, was removed and 
went behind them and stood between the 
Egyptians and the Israelites, so that the one 
came not near the other all the night. 

Q. What part did Moses act on this occa- 
sion? 

A. He stretched out his hand over the sea, 
and by a strong east wind all that night, the 
Lord caused the sea to go back, and the 
waters and dry land were divided. 

Q. Did the Israelites attempt to cross 
over? 

A. They went into the midst of the sea 
upon the dry ground, and the waters were a 
wall upon the right hand and upon the left. 

Q. Did Pharaoh pursue them ? 

A. In the morning watch, the Egyptians 
would have fled from the face of Israel, their 
chariot-wheels dragged heavily, but Pharaoh 
gave not back. 

Q. What happened him and those who 
were with him ? 

A. As they passed through the sea, the 
waters returned and they were all destroyed. 
There remained not so much as one of them. 



MOSES' SONG. 129 

Q. Did the Israelites acknowledge the 
power by which they had been delivered ? 

A. Israel saw that great work which the 
Lord did upon the Egyptians, and the people 
feared the Lord, and believed Him and his 
servant Moses. 

Q. Did they celebrate His praise ? 

A. Moses and the children of Israel sang, 
saying, '< I will sing unto the Lord, for He 
hath triumphed gloriously. The horse and 
his rider hath he thrown into the sea." 

Q. Was that all of the song that is re- 
corded ? 

A. They also sang, "The Lord is my strength 
and song, and He is become my salvation. 
He is my God, and I will prepare Him an 
habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt 
Him;" — with much more that is very beau- 
tiful, and which will be found in the fifteenth 
chapter of Exodus. 



CHAPTEE VI. 

MIRIAM THE PROPHETESS — WILDERNESS — 

ISRAELITES FED WITH MANNA — AMALEK 

JOSHUA — JUDGES APPOINTED BY MOSES 

MOUNT SINAI — THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 

PILLAR OF CLOUD AND OF FIRE. 

Question. What is the name of the prophet- 
ess that went out with her timbrel in her hand? 

Answer. Miriam the prophetess, sister of 
Aaron, went out with her timbrel, and all 
the women went out after her with timbrels 
and with dances. 

Q. What caused the people to murmur 
against Moses soon after this? 

A. They went a three days' journey into 
the wilderness, and found no water, and then 
they came to Marah ; but the waters of 
Marah were bitter, as the name signifies, and 
the people murmured and said, What shall 
we drink ? 

Q. What did Moses do ? 

A. He cried unto the Lord, and he was 
shown a tree, which, when he cast into the 
waters, they were made sweet. 

(130) 



v 



IN THE WILDERNESS. 131 

Q. What covenant was made on this oc- 
casion ? 

A. If they would diligently hearken unto 
the voice of the Lord, and would do that 
which is right in his sight, and would give 
ear to all his commandments, and keep all 
his statutes, that He would put none of the 
diseases upon them that He brought upon 
the Egyptians ; for, said He, I am the Lord 
that healeth thee. 

Q. Where did they next encamp ? 

A. They came to Elim, where were twelve 
wells of water, and threescore and ten palm- 
trees ; and they encamped by the waters. 

Q, What was the wilderness called that 
they came to after leaving Elim? 

A. The wilderness of Sin, between Elim 
and Sinai. 

Q. What happened them there ? 

A. They hungered and longed for the flesh- 
pots of Egypt ; and murmured against Moses 
for bringing them into the wilderness to die. 

Q. What further manifestation of divine 
regard was here witnessed ? 

A. While Aaron spoke to the whole congre- 
gation, the glory of the Lord appeared in the 
cloud, and a promise was received through 
Moses, that they should be fed. 

Q. In what way were they fed in this 
desolate place ? 



132 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. In the evening a flock of quails came 
up and covered the camp, and in the morn- 
ing manna, like dew, laid round about the 
host. 

Q. To what was this manna compared ? 

A. It was a small round thing, and laid 
upon the ground like hoar-frost; it was like 
coriander-seed, white, and the taste of it was 
like wafers made with honey. 

Q. Were particular directions given how 
this manna should be gathered ? 

A. It was to be gathered every day, ac- 
cording to every man's eating ; an omer for 
gevery man, and in this proportion was it to 
be gathered for those who were in his tent, 
or composed his immediate family. 

Q. What is an Omer? 

A. A Hebrew measure, the tenth part of an 
ephah ; a little more than five pints. 

Q. If any attempted to gather more than 
his portion, could he eat it the next day? 

A. No; those who did not hearken unto 
Moses, and gathered more than they were 
bid, found next morning it was unfit for food. 

Q. On the sixth day, did they provide for 
the seventh ? 

A. On the sixth day every man was di- 
rected to gather two omers instead of one, 
that they might rest on the Sabbath. 



THE MANNA. 133 

Q. Did it not spoil as on other days ? 

A. It was not spoiled ; and moreover, those 
who neglected to provide a double quantity, 
went out on the seventh day, and there was 
no manna to be gathered. 

Q, Was a portion of this manna preserved 
for future generations ? 

A. Moses told Aaron to take a pot, and 
put an omer full of manna in it, and lay it 
up before the Lord, to be kept for future 
generations. 

Q. Did Aaron obey Moses ? 

A, Aaron did so, and laid it up before the 
Testimony, to be kept. 

Q. How long did the Israelites eat manna? 

A. It is said, they ate manna forty years, 
until they came to the borders of the land 
of Canaan. 

Q. Did the children of Israel murmur 
against Moses after this ? 

A. In their journey they pitched their 
tents in Eephidim, and there was no water 
there ; and the people chid Moses, saying, 
G-ive us water to drink. 

Q. What was the reply of Moses ? 

A. He replied, Why chide ye me. He then 
appealed unto the Lord, saying, What shall 
I do unto this people; they are ready to stone 
me. 

12 



134 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Was he instructed what to do ? 

A. Moses was directed to take with him 
the elders of Israel, and go on before the 
people, with his rod in his hand ; and the 
Lord would stand before him on a rock in 
Horeb, and Moses should strike the rock, 
and water would flow out of it, for the peo- 
ple to drink. 

Q. What did Moses name the place ? 

A. He called it Massah and Meribah, be- 
cause of the chidings of the children of Israel, 
and because they said, Is the Lord among us 
or not ? 

Q. What enemy did they meet here? 

A. Amalek came out against Israel in 
Eephidim. 

Q. Who did Moses choose as the leader of 
the people? 

A. Joshua; and Moses stood upon the top 
of the hill with the rod of God in his hand. 

Q. Who went with Moses to the top of the 
hill? 

A. Aaron and Hur. 

Q. What office did Aaron and Hur perform 
for Moses ? 

A. They held up the hands of Moses. 

Q. For what purpose were Moses' hands 
neld up ? 

A. It is said that when they held up his 



AMALEK OVERCOME. 135 

hands Israel prevailed, and when he let down 
his hands Amalek prevailed. 
Q. Did Moses grow weary? 

A. Yes; and they brought him a stone to 
sit upon. Aaron was on one side and Hur 
on the other, and staid his hands until the 
going-down of the sun. 

Q. Did Joshua overcome the enemy? 

A. Joshua discomfited or defeated Amalek 
before sunset. 

Q. Of what is this account of Amalek 
typical ? 

A. We have said that Moses stood upon 
the top of the hill with the rod of God in his 
hand. This hill may represent a situation 
exalted above the spirit, or the things of the 
world, and the rod is an emblem of faith in 
God. 

Q. And what does Amalek signify? 

A. Amalek may be compared to our 
greatest enemy, Self-will, when opposed to 
the seed or life of God in the soul, which is 
the true Israel. 

Q. To what shall Aaron and Hur be 
likened ? 

A. Aaron signifies a teacher, also great 
strength ; and Hur means whiteness, which 
is emblematical of purity; so that if our 
hands when they are ready to hang down, 



136 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

in which position Amalek or Self-will would 
prevail, are upheld by wisdom and strength 
on the one hand and purity of heart on the 
other, — Israel, or the gift of God within us, 
will be victorious before the setting of the 
sun, or darkness comes over us. 

Q. It is written that they brought Moses 
a stone to sit upon; what idea does this 
convey ? 

A. When Moses grew weary, he was fur- 
nished with a seat upon which to rest as 
immovable or firm as a stone. 

Q. But Joshua went out against Amalek? 

A. Joshua was chosen the captain of the 
host of Israel. Beautiful figure! Joshua 
signifies Saviour. What could be more in 
keeping w r ith the whole subject! 

Q. Did Moses meet with his father-in-law? 

A. The father-in-law of Moses heard what 
God had done for Moses and for Israel his 
people, and went to him in the wilderness 
where he was encamped at the Mount of 
God. 

Q. What did Jethro think of all that Moses 
told him as he recounted the wonderful 
deliverance of Israel ? 

A. He rejoiced for all the goodness that 
had been shown Israel, and blessed the Lord 
who had delivered the people from Egyptian 
bondage. 



JUDGES APPOINTED. 137 

Q. Did Jethro counsel Moses in reference 
to the government of Israel? 

A. When he saw that Moses was engaged 
from morning till night judging between one 
and another, and settling the affairs of all, 
he said. Why sittest thou alone to judge the 
people ? Thou wilt surely wear out both 
thou and the people • thou art not able to 
bear it. 

Q. What plan did he propose Moses should 
adopt, whereby he would be relieved? 

A. He proposed that Moses should retain 
his position as Counsellor, but that he should 
provide out of the people able men, such as 
feared God, men of truth, hating covetous- 
ness, and place such as rulers over certain 
divisions; some to rule thousands, some hun- 
dreds, some fifties, and some tens. 

Q. Did Moses act in accordance with the 
advice of his father-in-law .? 

A. He hearkened to his voice, and did all 
that he said. And the rulers judged the peo- 
ple at all seasons in small matters ; but the 
hard cases were brought to Moses. 

Q. What particular council grew, as it is 
believed, out of the appointment of these 
judges ? 

A. It is thought that the appointment of 
these judges was the foundation of the cele- 
12* 



138 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

brated Sanhedrim, or general council of the 
Jewish nation ; consisting of seventy sena- 
tors who assembled at stated times to deter- 
mine the most important affairs of Church 
and State. 

Q. Did Jethro continue with Moses ? 

A. ~No ; after making him a visit, he de- 
parted to his own land. 

Q. After leaving Eephidim, where did the 
Israelites next encamp ? 

A. They came to the desert of Sinai, and 
encamped before the mount. 

Q. Where is Mount Sinai situated ? 

A. Between the two gulfs at the head of 
the Red Sea. It seems probable that Sinai 
and Horeb are only different heads or peaks 
of the same mountain. 

Q. "jyhat do modern travellers say of this 
mountain ? 

A. That it is not so lofty as some moun- 
tains around it, and in its form there is 
nothing peculiar to distinguish it from others ; 
its ascent is rough and difficult. 

Q. Is there a building near its foot? 

A. At its foot stands the Monastery of St. 
Catharine, said to be built by the Emperor 
Justinian in the sixth century. 

Q. Are visitors admitted into this monas- 
tery? 



MOUNT SINAI, 139 

A. On the east side is a window by which 
pilgrims and visitors are drawn up and let 
down in a basket by a rope and pulley. 

Q. Is this window used for another pur- 
pose ? 

A. By the same means victuals and alms 
are given to Arabs, who are never permitted 
to enter the monastery for fear of outrage. 
Q. Is there no door to the building? 
A. There is a door, bat it is only opened 
to admit the bishop. 

Q. What is the shape of the monastery ? 
A. It is an irregular quadrangle, and is en- 
closed by high and solid walls, built with 
blocks of granite, and fortified by several 
towers. 

Q. What is said of the enclosures ? 
A. There are eight or ten small court- 
yards, some of which are neatly laid out 
with flowers and vegetables. A great many 
vines, and also a few dates and cypress-trees, 
grow there. 

Q. Are there wells connected with it ? 
A. In the convent are two deep and copi- 
ous wells. 

Q. Is there a garden attached to it ? 
A. A pleasant garden adjoins the building, 
into which there is a subterranean passage ; 
the soil is stony, but in this climate, where 



140 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

water is plenty, the very rocks will produce 
vegetation. The fruit is of the finest quality. 

Q. Who has possession of this monastery ? 

A. The Greek Christians have had it in 
possession 1000 years, it having been given 
them by the Emperor Justinian. 

Q. How was the top of the mountain for- 
merly reached from this building ? 

A. By steps, of which it was computed 
there were fourteen thousand. 

Q. Are these steps still preserved ? 

A. Some of them are broken, but those 
which remain are well made, and are easy 
to ascend and descend. 

Q. For what is Mount Sinai principally 
celebrated ? 

A. For the Scriptural account of the laws 
given to Moses for the government of the 
Israelites. 

Q. Was the power of the Highest especially 
manifested from this mount ? 

A. It is written there were thunders and 
lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount, 
from which was heard a voice as from a 
trumpet, so that all the people who were in 
the camp trembled. 

Q. Was Moses especially spoken to 

A. As the voice of the trumpet sounded 
long and became louder and louder, Moses 



THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 141 

was called to come to the top of the 
mount. 

Q. Did Moses obey the voice ? 

A. He went up, and the Lord talked with 
him, and then bade him go down to the 
people. 

Q. What were the Commandments which 
Moses received ? 

A. I am the Lord thy God which have 
brought thee out of Egypt, out of the house 
of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods 
before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee 
any graven image, or any likeness of any- 
thing that is in heaven above or that is in 
the earth beneath, or that is in the water 
under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down 
thyself to them nor serve them. 

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord 
thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold 
him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 

Eemember the Sabbath-day to keep it 
holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all 
thy work, but the seventh day is the Sab- 
bath of the Lord thy God, — in it thou shalt 
not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy 
daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid- 
servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that 
is within thy gates. 

Honor thy father and thy mother, that 



142 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

thy days may be long upon the land which 
the Lord thy God giveth thee. 

Thou shalt not kill. 

Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

Thou shalt not steal. 

Thou shalt not bear false witness against 
thy neighbor. 

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, 
thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor 
his man-servant, nor hi^ maid-servant, nor 
his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy 
neighbor's. 

Q. Were the people willing to receive these 
commandments ? 

A. They were awed by all they heard and 
saw, and said unto Moses, Speak thou with 
us and we will hear ; but let not God speak 
with us lest we die. 

Q. What commandment was reiterated ? 

A. That they should love the Lord alone; 
that they should not make unto themselves 
gods of silver or gold. 

Q. What was said of the altar upon which 
the sacrifices were to be offered ? 

A. If thou wilt make me an altar of stone, 
thou shalt not build it of hewn stone, for if 
thou lift thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted 
it. 

Q. Were there other ordinances or laws 
established by Moses ? 



THE TABLES OF STONE. 143 

A. Many others are connected with this 
part of the history, but it is not deemed im- 
portant that they should be brought into 
notice here. 

Q. Where did Moses receive the tables of 
stone ? 

A, We read that Moses was directed to go 
up to the mount, where he should be given 
the tables of stone, and a law and command- 
ments, that he might teach the people. 

Q. Did Moses go alone ? 

A. Moses went up alone, telling the elders 
of Israel, that Aaron and Hur were with 
them, and if any man had any matters to do, 
let him ask them. 

Q. How long did Moses continue in the 
mount ? 

A. Forty days and forty nights; and he 
here received instructions relative to the 
tabernacle, which should be made for the 
Lord. 

Q. What request was he to make of the 
people ? 

A. That they who made an offering will- 
ingly, should bring of their possessions and 
make a sanctuary, that the Lord might dwell 
among them. 

Q. Did Moses receive particular directions 
respecting the building of the tabernacle ? 



144 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. Yes ; and all things were to be made in 
accordance with the pattern that was shown 
him in the mount. 

Q. Was the construction of this temple 
very beautiful? 

A* The form assigned was beautiful, and 
the furniture and ornaments were many of 
them to be of gold, and the vessels of pure 
gold. 

Q. Of what were the curtains to be com- 
posed ? 

A. Of fine twined linen, and blue and pur- 
ple and scarlet, with cherubim of cunning 
work, they were to be made. 

Q. Were the hangings for the door of the 
same materials ? 

A. They were to be the same, wrought 
with needle-work. 

Q. What does the care manifested in the 
making of this tabernacle teach us? 

A. That it is designed to have a meaning 
in the parts so minutely described, vastly 
more important than merely a visible and 
outward one. 

Q. Can we receive spiritual instruction 
from all that is said of it ? 

A. Under all of the material show of this 
gorgeous tabernacle, there is a representa- 



THE GOLDEN CALF. 145 

tion of things spiritual, such as should be in- 
structive throughout all generations. 

Q. What should this induce us to do ? 

A. To become familiar with the descrip- 
tion of this ancient sanctuary, and endeavor, 
by the aid of that spirit which can alone give 
us an understanding, to penetrate through 
its shadows into the sublime realities which 
they represent. 

Q. Of what especial wrong were the Israel- 
ites guilty during the absence of Moses? 

A. Being impatient at his long stay, they 
said to Aaron, Make us gods to go before 
us, for as for Moses who brought us out of 
the land of Bgypt, we wot not what has be- 
come of him. And Aaron took their gold and 
cast it into the fire, and fashioned it with a 
graving-tool into a calf. 

Q. What did the people do with this golden 
calf? 

A. They built an altar before it, and offered 
burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and the 
people sat down and ate and drank. 

Q. What did Moses do when he came 
down from the mount and saw what had 
been done? 

A. He was greatly distressed, and threw 
from him the two tables of stone which he 
held in his hand, and broke them beneath 
13 



146 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

the mount, and took the calf which they had 
made, and burned it in the fire and ground 
it to powder. 

Q. What excuse did Aaron offer to Moses, 
when he remonstrated with him ? 

A. He told Moses he knew this people, 
that they were bent upon mischief, and were 
vexed at his long stay ; and when they asked 
him to make a god for them to go before 
them, he took their gold and cast it into the 
fire, and it came out a calf. 

Q. What was the language given Moses 
for the people ? 

A, The Lord said unto Moses, " Say unto 
the children of Israel, Ye are a stiff-necked 
people. I will come up into the midst of thee 
in a moment and consume thee. Therefore, 
now, put off thy ornaments from thee, that 
I may know what to do with thee/' 

Q. Did the Israelites heed the injunction ? 

A. They stripped themselves of their orna- 
ments by the mount Horeb. 

Q. It is said, Moses now pitched the taber- 
nacle without the camp. What did he call it? 

A. He called it the Tabernacle of the Con- 
gregation, and those who sought the Lord 
entered it. 

Q. What did the people do as Moses passed 
eat to the tabernacle? 



THE TABERNACLE. 147 

A. Every man stood at his tent-door, and 
when the people saw the cloudy pillar stand 
at the tabernacle-door, they worshipped in 
their tents. 

Q. Whom did Moses discover, as he was 
turning to go away ? 

A. He saw Joshua the son of Nun, a young 
man, who departed not out of the tabernacle. 

Q. What renewed encouragement did Mo- 
ses receive at this time? 

A. He sought for guidance in the way in 
which he should lead the people, and he was 
assured that the presence of the Lord should 
go with him, and that he should stand upon 
a rock. 

Q. Did Moses replace the tables of stone 
which he had broken ? 

A. He hewed two tables of stone like the 
first, and went up to the mount and continued 
there forty days and forty nights, and he wrote 
upon the tables the words of the covenant — 
the ten commandments. 

Q. What is said of the face of Moses as he 
descended from the mount? 

A. As he talked with the people, the skin 
of his face shone, and they were afraid to 
come near him, so that Moses put a veil over 
his face until he was done speaking to them. 



148 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. After the new tabernacle was finished, 
what did Moses do with it? 

A. It is said that he took the anointing oil 
and anointed it and all that was therein. 

Q. In what way did he finish the work? 

A. He reared up a court round about the 
tabernacle and the altar, and set up the 
hanging of the court-gate. So Moses finished 
the work. 

Q. What is said of the cloud that rested 
upon the tabernacle ? 

A. It covered the tent of the congregation, 
and the glory of the Lord filled the taber- 
nacle. 

Q. Did Moses enter the tent while the 
cloud rested upon it? 

A. JSTo; he was not able to enter it while 
the cloud rested upon it and the glory of the 
Lord filled the tabernacle. 

Q. When the cloud was lifted, what did 
the children of Israel do ? 

A. When it was taken up, they journeyed 
forward, and when it rested upon the taber- 
nacle, they did not go forward. 

Q. Did the pillar of cloud and the pillar of 
fire continue with them ? 

A. Throughout all their journeying the 
cloud was upon the tabernacle by day, and 
fire was on it by night, in .the sight of all 
the house of Israel. 



OBEDIENCE ENJOINED, 149 

Q. What was the promise given them, if 
they would walk in the statutes, and keep 
the commandments, which had been given 
them ? 

A. That they should have rain in due sea- 
son, and the land should yield its increase, 
and that the trees of the field should yield 
fruit ; that their threshing should reach unto 
the vintage and the vintage unto the sowing- 
time, and that they should eat bread to the 
full. 

Q. What was said of their enemies? 

A. That they should have peace in the 
land, and none should make them afraid ; 
and as to their enemies, five of them might 
chase a hundred, and a hundred put ten 
thousand to flight. 

Q. What was to come upon them if they 
were disobedient? 

A. If they would not hearken unto the 
Lord and do his commandments, He would 
break the pride of their power, and make 
their heaven as iron and their earth as brass, 
and their strength should be spent in vain. 

Q. Were the Israelites divided into tribes? 

A. They were numbered and divided into 
tribes, — each one with the house of his 
fathers; and the sons of Jacob, twelve in 
number, were called the princes of Israel. 
13* 



CHAPTEK VII. 

children of israel — eleazar made priest 
— aaron's death — the habits of mourn- 
ing — BAALAM — THE LAND OF CANAAN 

THE COUNSEL OF MOSES TO JOSHUA — MOSES 
BLESSES ISRAEL — THE DEATH OF MOSES. 

Question. What was the blessing that Aa- 
ron should give the children of Israel? 

Answer. Moses told Aaron to bless the chil- 
dren of Israel, and to say, The Lord bless 
thee, and keep thee. The Lord make his 
face to shine upon thee, and be gracious 
unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance 
upon thee, and give thee peace. And they 
shall pat my name upon the children of Is- 
rael, and I will bless them. 

Q. Did they continue to be governed in 
their journeyings by the cloud upon the tab- 
ernacle ? 

A. Yes; whether it was by day or by night 
that the cloud was removed, they journeyed ; 
and whether it was two days, or a month, or 
a year that it remained, they journeyed not. 

Q. Did Moses send men to search the land 
of Canaan? 

(150) 



CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, 151 

A. Moses sent the heads of the tribes of 
Israel to spy out the land, and see what it 
was, whether it was good or bad, whether 
the people dwelt in cities, or in tents, or in 
strongholds, and whether there was wood 
therein. 

Q. What did they bring from this land? 

A. Pomegranates and figs ; and from the 
brook of Eschol, they brought a branch with 
one cluster of grapes that was borne between 
two men on a staff. 

Q. Were the grapes so large as to require 
two men to carry them ? 

A. A cluster of grapes grows in that coun- 
try at the present day to the weight of twelve 
pounds ; in ancient times they might have 
been larger, and no doubt the men wished to 
present the fruit un bruised to Moses, and 
therefore carried it with care. 

Q. Of what color were the grapes? 

A. The Palestine grapes are mostly red or 
black ; whence the common expression, the 
blood of grapes. 

Q. What was sometimes made of the vine ? 

A Sceptres for kings were sometimes made 
of the vine. 

Q. What Scripture phrase gives an idea of 
a large and flourishing vine ? 

A. To sit under a man's own vine and fig- 



152 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

tree signifies a state of both prosperity and 
peace. 

Q. How long were the men gone ? « 

A. They searched the land for forty days. 

Q. What report did they bring of the land 
generally ? 

A. That it flowed with milk and honey, 
and that the fruit was fine; but the people 
dwelt in walled cities, and were very great : 
moreover, they saw the children of Anak 
there. 

Q. Who were the children of Anak? 

A. They were said to be giants; and the 
spies compared themselves to grasshoppers 
in their sight. 

Q. Did this discourage the children of Is- 
rael from proceeding? 

A. Caleb said, Let us go up at once and 
possess the land, for we are well able to do 
so; but the men who went up with him said 
they were not able, for the people were 
stronger than they were. 

Q. What did the Israelites do ? 

A. The people wept that night, and mur- 
mured against Moses and against Aaron, and 
said, Would that we had died in the land of 
Egypt, or in the wilderness; and they pro- 
posed to one another to make a captain and 
return to Egypt. 



THE PEOPLE REBEL. 153 

Q. Did they carry out this proposition ? 

A. No. Moses and Aaron fell on their 
faces before all the assembly; and Joshua 
and Caleb, who were among those that 
searched the land, spoke unto the company 
and said, The land which we passed through 
is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord 
delight in us, He will bring us into this land 
and give it to us. 

Q. Did they caution them against rebel- 
lion ? 

A. They said, Only rebel not against the 
Lord, neither fear the people ; the Lord is 
with us ; fear them not. 

Q. Did they listen to this advice ? 

A. They were not convinced, but were 
ready to stone Joshua and Caleb w^ith stones. 

Q. Did Moses desire that the people should 
be forgiven for their rebellion ? 

A. Moses made this appeal, " Pardon, I be- 
seech Thee, the iniquity of this people ac- 
cording unto the greatness of Thy mercy, 
and as Thou hast forgiven this people from 
Egypt until now. 

Q. What answer was given Moses ? 

A. It is written that the Lord said, I have 
pardoned according to thy word, but these 
men who have seen my glory, have not 
hearkened to my voice, and surely they shall 



154 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

not seo the land promised their fathers; but 
my servant Caleb, because he had another 
spirit, and hath followed me fully, him will 
1 bring into the land, and his seed shall pos- 
sess it. 

Q. Were there other exceptions made in 
relation to the exclusion of the disobedient 
Israelites from the land of promise ? 

A. Joshua the son of Nun was to enter 
the land, because he too had been faithful to 
the commandments of the Lord; and the 
little ones, whom the people thought would 
perish in the wilderness, were also to be 
brought in. 

Q. Did the people after this rebel again ? 

A. There was sore rebellion among them ; 
and it is written that many lost their lives 
on account of it; the tribe of Korah being 
entirely cut off. 

Q. Did they again suffer for water ? 

A. When they came into the desert of Zin, 
there was no water for the congregation, and 
they murmured greatly. 

Q. What was Moses instructed to do for 
them? 

A. To take his rod and strike the rock, 
and water should flow out of it. 

Q. Was Moses obedient to this command? 

A. He took the rod and went with Aaron 



WATER OF MERIBAH. 155 

to the rock and smote it ; and said, Hear 
now, ye rebels, must we fetch yon water out 
of this rock? And he lifted his hand and 
smote the rock twice, and the water came 
out abundantly, and the congregation drank 
and their beasts also. 

Q. Was the manner of Moses reproved ? 

A. It was ; and because he and his brother 
ascribed not the glory to the Lord before 
the people, they were told they should not 
bring them into the land which had been 
promised them. 

Q. What was the water of this place 
called ? 

A. The water of Meribah, because the 
children of Israel rebelled against the Lord ; 
but it is written, He was sanctified in them, 
by which we understand that His mercy was 
made known to them. 

Q. Who died and was buried near this 
spot? 

A. Miriam the prophetess. 

Q, In which direction did Moses wish to 
travel from this point ? 

A. He wished to pass through the land of 
Edom; and sent messengers to the king 
asking his permission. 

Q. Was it granted ? 

A. Edomsaid, Thou shalt not pass by me; 



156 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

if thou dost, I will come out against thee 
with a sword. 

Q What did Moses promise, if they were 
permitted to pass through his dominion? 

A. That they would not pass either to the 
right hand or the left ; that neither their 
fields nor vineyards should be disturbed ; 
neither would they drink of the water of the 
wells, if they were allowed to go by the 
king's highway. 

Q. Did the king still refuse? 

A. The king of Edom refused to let them 
pass through his border, therefore they 
turned away from him. 

Q. Through what country did they pass? 

A. They journeyed from Kadesh to Mount 
Hor. 

Q. What occurred upon this mount ? 

A. Aaron was divested of his priestly gar- 
ments, and they were placed upon his son 
Eleazar. And Aaron died there. 

Q. What do we read of the sepulchre of 
Aaron ? 

A. Josephus and other historians place the 
sepulchre of Aaron on Mount Hor, and say 
that it is still venerated by the Arabs. 

Q. Is it mentioned by more modern 
writers ? 

A. A modern traveller reports having 



ELEAZAR MADE PRIEST. 157 

visited the spot, and found the supposed 
tomb in the care of a crippled Arab. 

Q. Does he describe the tomb? 

A. He says, The monument is about three 
feet high, and is protected by a small white 
building with a cupola. 

Q. Who were with Aaron when he died ? 

A. Eleazar his son, to whom the priestly 
garments had been given, and his brother 
Moses. 

Q. Moses and Eleazar returned without 
Aaron; what was the effect upon the people ? 

A. The whole congregation mourned for 
Aaron thirty days. 

Q. What were some of the ceremonies of 
grief usual on occasions of death ? 

A. The near relatives rent their garments 
from the neck to the girdle, and a cry of 
lamentation and sorrow filled the room. 
This continued until the corpse was carried 
from the house. 

Q. In Aaron's case it is said they mourned 
thirty days ; was that unusual ? 

A. In many cases the ceremonies of grief 
lasted eight days, but for kings or persons 
of distinction it was commonly extended to 
a whole month or thirty days. 

Q. Mourning women are alluded to by the 
prophet Jeremiah ; to whom did he refer ? 
14 



158 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. In those days it was usual to employ 
persons whose professed business it was to 
conduct the ceremonies of wailing and lam- 
entation, for which they received compensa- 
tion. They chanted in doleful strains the 
virtues of the dead, thus raising to a higher 
pitch the sorrowful feelings of relatives and 
friends, and causing them to find relief in 
floods of tears. 

Q. Were instruments of music used to 
heighten the effect ? 

A. The wailings were often accompanied 
with some melancholy music of instruments. 

Q. Did the Israelites continue to meet 
with difficulties in their journey ? 

A. The inhabitants of the land through 
which they passed were opposed to them, and 
gave them great trouble. 

Q. Who sent for Balaam the prophet, to 
consult with him relative to the Israelites ? 

A. Balak, king of the Moabites. 

Q. What prompted Balak to send for 
Balaam ? 

A. This was a common occurrence in an- 
cient times, in difficult cases. There was a 
class of men regularly set apart to bless and 
to curse, and to foretell events, and Balaam 
was such an one. 

Q. Did Balaam go to Balak ? 



BALAAM'S ASS. 159 

A. He several times refused to go, but at 
length was prevailed upon by the princes of 
Moab to accompany them. 

Q. Why did Balaam refuse ? 

A. He felt that it was not in accordance 
with the divine will that he should go ; but 
he was no doubt sorely tempted by the prof- 
fers of emolument of the king of Moab. 

Q. In what way did the disposition of 
Balaam more particularly manifest itself? 

A. By the unkindness shown the animal 
which he rode, it is evident that he was very 
angry ; and he vented his ill-temper upon his 
beast. 

Q. What reproof did Balaam receive ? 

A. It is written, that after he had smitten 
his ass three times in great anger, the animal 
spoke to Balaam, saying, Am I not thine 
ass ; was I ever wont to do so to thee ? 

Q. Is it to be supposed that the ass spoke 
with the voice of a man ? 

A. A commentator on this passage, con- 
sidered among the most pious and learned, 
has not scrupled to represent the whole 
transaction as occurring in a vision. Others 
have thought that Balaam's own heart, smit- 
ing him for his cruelty, put, as it were, words 
in the mouth of his ass. 

Q. Was Balaam convinced that he was 
doing wrong ? 



160 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. He acknowledged that he had "sinned," 
and that he was willing to retrace his steps; 
bat he was impressed with the belief that as 
be had started, he had better continue his 
journey, and resolved to speak no other 
words than those which should be given him 
by the Lord. 

Q. Did Balak show his anxiety to consult 
Balaam by going to meet him? 

A. When Balak heard that Balaam was 
coming, he went to meet him at a city on 
the utmost coast of Moab. 

Q. What did the king say to Balaam? 

A. He queried with him, why he did not 
come at once, and said, Did I not send for 
thee earnestly, and am I not able to promote 
thee to honor? 

Q. Did Balaam assume anything to him- 
self, or speak of his own powers ? 

A. He told Balak he had come unto him, 
but signified he had no power at all of him- 
self; but what God should put in his mouth, 
that he should speak. 

Q. What did Balak want Balaam to do ? 

A. He wished him to curse Jacob and defy 
Israel. 

Q. Could Balaam do this? 

A. Nay; he said, " How shall I curse whom 
God hath not cursed, or how shall I defy 



BALAAM. 161 

whom the Lord hath not defied? For, from 
the top of the rocks I see him, and from the 
hills I behold him; — lo, the people shall dwell 
alone, and shall not be reckoned among the 
nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, 
and the number of the fourth part of Israel ? 
Let me die the death of the righteous, and 
let rny last end be like his/' 

Q. Was Balak satisfied with this ? 

A. ISTo ; he exclaimed, What hast thou done 
unto me ? I took thee to curse mine enemies, 
and behold, thou hast blessed them alto- 
gether. 

Q. What reason did Balaam offer for this? 

A. He answered, Must I not take heed to 
speak that which the Lord hath put in my 
mouth? Behold, I have received a com- 
mandment to bless, and He hath blessed, 
and I cannot reverse it. Surely there is no 
enchantment against Jacob ; neither is there 
any divination against Israel. 

Q. What request did Balak now make of 
Balaam ? 

A. That he should neither curse them at 
all nor bless them at all. But Balaam said 
to him, Told not I thee; all that the Lord 
speaketh that I must do. 

Q. Balak took Balaam to see Israel from 
14* 



162 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

another point, with the hope that he would 
yet grant his wish. Did Balaam do so? 

A. The prophet saw that it pleased the 
Lord to bless Israel, and he went not to seek 
enchantments, as at other times; but having 
his eyes opened, he saw Israel abiding in 
their tents according to their tribes; — and 
the spirit of God came upon him. 

Q. What was the language of Balaam ? 

A. How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, 
and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the val- 
leys are they spread forth, as gardens by 
the river's side, as the trees of lign-aloes 
which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar- 
trees beside the waters. Blessed is he that 
blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth 
thee. 

Q. Did Balak express his dissatisfaction? 

A, Balak was very angry, and he smote 
his hands together and said, I called thee to 
curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast 
altogether blessed them these three times; 
therefore now flee thou to thy place. I 
thought to promote thee to honor; but lo, 
the Lord hath kept thee back from honor. 

Q. Did Balaam seem to regret not having 
been promoted ? 

A. He said to Balak, Did I not tell thy 
messengers, that if thou would give me thy 



BALAAM. 163 

house full of silver and gold, I could not go 
beyond the commandment of God, to do 
either good or bad of mine own mind. 

Q. What prophecy did Balaam repeat on 
this occasion ? 

A. I shall see him, but not now; I shall be- 
hold him, but not nigh. There shall come a 
star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise 
out of Israel ; out of Jacob shall come one 
who shall have dominion. 

Q. Did Balaam leave Balak after this ? 

A. Balaam arose and returned home, and 
Balak also went his way. 

Q. Did Moses continue to exhort the peo- 
ple to yield obedience to the commandments 
which had been given them? 

A. He reminded them that the Lord their 
God is one Lord, and that the words which 
he had commanded should be in their heart, 
and they should teach them to their children ; 
should talk of them when they sat down, 
and when they walked by the way, when 
they laid dow T n and when they rose up ; and 
that they should write them upon the posts 
of their houses and on their gate. 

Q. Did he tell them in what way the love 
of God is sometimes shown ? 

A. He said, Thou shalt also consider in 
thy heart, that as a man chasten eth his son, 
so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. 



164 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. What did he say of the land, they were 
about to enter ? 

A. He told them it was a good land, a land 
of brooks, of water, of fountains, and depths 
that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of 
wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees, and 
pomegranates ; a land of oil, olive and honey; 
a land wherein they should eat bread without 
scarceness, — they should not lack anything; 
a land whose stones were iron, and out of 
whose hills they might dig brass. And when 
they had eaten and were full, then they should 
bless the Lord their God for the good land 
which He had given them. 

Q. Did Moses bid them be cautious when 
they were thus blessed ? 

A. He bade them beware that they forgot 
not the Lord their God when they had 
eaten and were full, and had built goodly 
houses and dwelt therein — and when their 
herds and flocks, and silver and gold, and 
all that they had, multiplied, lest their hearts 
should be lifted up, and they should forget 
Him who brought them out from the house 
of bondage. 

Q. What did Moses say to Joshua ? 

A. He called Joshua and said to him be- 
fore all Israel, Be strong and of good courage ; 
for thou must go with this people unto the 



COUNSEL TO JOSHUA. 165 

land which the Lord hath given their fathers, 
and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. 

Q. Did he tell Joshua not to be afraid ? 

A. He said, The Lord will go before thee, 
He will be with thee, He will not fail thee 
nor forsake thee; fear not, neither be dis- 
mayed. 

Q. How old was Moses at this time ? 

A. He was a hundred and twenty years 
old. 

Q. Did he feel as if the time of his de- 
parture or death was at hand ? 

A. He felt assured the day approached 
when he must die, and he called Joshua, and 
they went together into the tabernacle, and 
Moses encouraged Joshua. 

Q. Did he give the people a parting salu- 
tation ? 

A. He had the elders of all the tribes 
gathered, and their officers, that he might 
counsel them. 

Q. Did he fear they would become stiff- 
necked and rebellious after his death ? 

A. He foresaw it, and bade them take a 
book of the law which he had written, and 
place it in the Ark of the Covenant, that it 
might be a witness against them. 

Q. Did Moses repeat a Psalm, <5r a song, in 
the con^reo-a/ion ? 



166 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. He repeated the words of this song: 
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak ; and 
hear, O earth, the words of my mouth My 
doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech 
shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon 
the tender herb, and as the showers upon 
the grass. . . . For the Lord's portion is 
His people ; Jacob is the lot of His inherit- 
ance, etc. 

Q. Did Moses bless the twelve tribes before 
his death? 

A. He blessed them all. 

Q. What was said of Benjamin ? 

A. The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in 
safety by him, and the Lord shall dwell 
with him all the day long. 

Q. What of Joseph ? 

A. Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the 
precious things of heaven, for the dew and 
for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for 
the precious things of the earth, and for the 
good will of Him that dwelt in the bush ; let 
the blessing come upon the head of Joseph 
and upon the top of the head of him that 
was separated from his brethren. 

Q. What was said of Asher? 

A. Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and 
as thy days, so shall thy strength be. The 
eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath. 



DEATH OP MOSES. 167 

are the everlasting arms, and He shall thrust 
out the enemy from before thee. 

Q. What of them collectively, or of Israel ? 

A. Israel shall then dwell in safety alone ; 
the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land 
of corn and wine, also his heavens shall drop 
down dew. . . Happy art thou, O Israel; 
who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the 
Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the 
sword of thy excellency. 

Q. Upon what mount did Moses overlook 
the land he was not to enter? 

A, From mount Pisgah he saw all the land 
that was promised the children of Israel, but 
which he could not enter. 

Q. Moses was an hundred and twenty 
years old. Was he feeble ? 

A. No ; his eye was not dim, nor his natu- 
ral force abated. 

Q. Where did Moses die ? 

A. In the valley in the land of Moab, over 
against Belh-peor, but it is said that no man 
knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. 



CHAPTEE VIII. 

THE BOOK OF RUTH. 

ELIMELECH AND FAMILY BETHLEHEM- JUDAH 

DEATH OF ELIMELECH — MAHLON AND 

CHILION — ORPAH AND RUTH THEIR MAR- 
RIAGE — THE DEATH OF MAHLON AND CHIL- 
ION NAOMI AND RUTH RUTH GLEANS 

BOAZ THE MOSAIC STATUTES SALUTA- 
TIONS THE GATE OF THE CITY BOAZ AND 

HIS KINSMAN — MARRIAGE OF BOAZ. 

We are told that in some of the ancient 
records, the books of Euth and Judges make 
one; but in our Bible, Euth follows Judges 
as a sequel to it. The history of Euth opens 
with an account of Elimelech and his family 
who went into the land of'Moab, when there 
was a famine in Bethlehem-Judah. 

Question. Is Bethlehem-Judah the same 
as the Bethlehem we read of in the New 
Testament ? 

Answer. It is the same that is celebrated 
as the birthplace of king David, and after- 
ward of Jesus. 

Q. What is the modern aspect of this 
noted city? 

(168) 



ELIMELECH AND FAMILY. 169 

A. Travellers tell us, it is * at present a 
large straggling village, with about three 
thousand inhabitants, nearly all professing 
Christians; it has one broad street, upon 
which stands a large building for public wor- 
ship, in the shape of a cross, erected by the 
Empress Helena in the fourth century. 

Q. Are there other places for religious pur- 
poses ? 

A. It has large convents belonging to the 
Roman Catholics, Greeks, and Armenians. 

Q. What is the color of the inhabitants? 

A. They are dark, almost approaching to 
black ; they are said to be a bold and hardy 
race, and have successfully resisted Turkish 
oppression. 

Q. Is the surrounding country fertile ? 

A. It is exceedingly fruitful, and no doubt 
from this fact the city derived its name, 
Bethlehem — the City of Bread. 

Q. What are some of the products ? 

A. The principal are grapes, figs, and other 
fruits with which it abounds, and which form 
the chief support of the inhabitants. 

Q. What occurred in the family of Eli- 
melech soon after they went to Moab. 

A. Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, and 
she with her two sons were left. 

Q. What were the names of her sons ? 
15 



170 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. Mahlon and Chilion. 

Q. Did they marry ? 

A. They both married Moabitish maidens, 
one named Orpah and the other Euth. 

Q. How long did they continue in Moab ? 

A. After having lived there ten years, both 
of Naomi's sons died, and she was thus be- 
reft of both husband and sons. 

Q. "What did Naomi do under the feeling 
of desolation ? 

A. She arose with her daughters-in-law to 
return to her own land, as she had " heard 
that the Lord had visited his people, in giv- 
ing them bread/' 

Q. Did her daughters-in-law go with her? 

A. They started with her, but on the way 
she said to them, Go return each to thy 
mother's house. The Lord deal kindly with 
you, as ye have dealt with the dead and 
with me. The Lord grant that ye may find 
rest each of you, in the house of her hus- 
band. Then she kissed them, and they wept 
aloud. 

Q. Did Orpah and Euth then leave their 
mother? 

A. No; they said to her, Surely we will 
return with thee unto thy people. 

Q. Was Naomi willing they should go ? 

A. She remonstrated, — spoke of her deso- 



BETHLEHEM. 171 

late condition, and said, It grieveth me much 
for your sakes, that the hand of the Lord is 
gone against me ; then Orpah kissed her 
mother-in-law and departed, but Euth clung 
to her. 

Q. Did their mother urge Euth to go with 
her sister-in-law ? 

A. She said to Euth, Behold, thy sister-in- 
law has gone back to her people and to her 
gods ; return thou after thy sister-in-law. 

Q. What was Euth's answer ? 

A. " Entreat me not to leave thee, or to 
return from following after thee \ for whither 
thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest 
I will lodge : thy people shall be my people, 
and thy God my God. Where thou diest, I 
will die, and there will I be buried. The 
Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but 
death part thee and me/' 

Q. How did jSTaomi accept this affectionate 
decision of her daughter? 

A. When she saw she was resolved to go 
with her, she said no more, and they jour- 
neyed together to Bethlehem. 

Q. How were they received by the citizens 
of Bethlehem? 

A. All the city was moved with sympathy 
for them, and they queried, Is this Naomi ? 

Q. How did she answer them? 



172 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. Call me not Naomi,, but Mara, for the 
Lord hath dealt bitterly with me. I went 
out full, and the Lord hath brought me home 
empty. He hath afflicted me ; why call me 
Naomi ? 

Q. Do you know the signification of Na- 
omi? 

A. It implies beautiful and agreeable, and 
we can see why the widow would change 
her name to JVIara, which we know means 
bitter. 

Q. What season of the year did Naomi 
and Euth return to Judah or Bethlehem-Ju- 
dah? 

A. In the beginning of barley-harvest. 

Q. Was barley the first grain that was cut? 

A. It became ripe very soon after the rainy 
season had passed, and was the first cut. 

Q. What ceremony attended the cutting of 
the first sheaf? 

A. It was presented as an offering of the 
first-fruits of the harvest at the altar of God. 

Q. How long did the time of harvest con- 
tinue ? 

A. Seven weeks — from the Passover until 
Pentecost. 

Q. We have been told the signification of 
Passover, but not of Pentecost. What is it ? 

A. Pentecost signifies the fiftieth ; the He- 



MOSAIC STATUTES. 173 

brews call it the Feast of Weeks, because it 
was kept seven weeks after the Passover. 

Q. Was the harvest season a joyful one ? 

A. It is represented as a season of great 
pleasure. The master was seen in the midst 
of the field with his servants and children, 
all pursuing their work diligently and cheer- 
fully. 

Q. Did the maidens join them ? 

A. They came forth also, and lent their as- 
sistance to the general work. 

Q. What was required of the Jewish 
farmer in relation to cutting his grain and 
gleaning his fields? 

A. He was required not to cut the grain 
in the corners of his fields, but to leave it for 
the poor; and when he gleaned his fields, he 
was not to forget the stranger. 

Q. Can you repeat the statute in relation 
to it? 

A. " When ye reap the harvest of your 
land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners 
of thy land, neither shalt thou gather the 
gleaning of thy harvest. Thou shalt leave 
them for the poor and the stranger/' 

Q. To whose field did Euth go to glean? 

J.. Euth went to the field of a kinsman of 
her father-in-law, a mighty man of wealth, 
named Boaz. 
15* 



174 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Did she ask her mother if she should 
go? 

A. She said to her mother, Let me go and 
glean ears of corn after him in whose eyes I 
shall find grace; and her mother said, Go, 
my daughter. 

Q. What did Ruth mean by finding grace 
in the eyes of a man ? 

A. It was a common expression in those 
days, and simply meant, with whom she 
should find favor, or who might allow her to 
glean in his field. 

Q. Did she not know that Boaz was a 
kinsman ? 

A. It does not appear that she knew where 
she should glean, or anything about Boaz ; 
for it is written, And her hap was, to light 
on a part of the field belonging to Boaz, who 
was of the kindred of Eiimelech. 

Q. Boaz was said to be a man of wealth ; 
did not the whole field belong to him ? 

A. In that day there were large tracts of 
land owned by different proprietors within 
one enclosure ; and we can therefore perceive 
how Ruth might happen to glean, without 
knowing it, on a part of the field belonging 
to Boaz. 

Q. Was Boaz in the field when Ruth first 
entered ic? 



BOAZ. 175 

A. He was not; but she was gleaning after 
the . reapers when Boaz came from Beth- 
lehem. 

Q. What was Boaz's salutation to the 
reapers ? 

A. The Lord be with you ; and they an- 
swered. The Lord bless thee. 

Q. Did he perceive the maiden ? 

A. He inquired of the servants who were 
with the reapers, " Whose damsel is this ?" 

Q. Did they know who she was ? 

A. They told him, she was the Moabitish 
stranger; and that she had asked permission 
of the reapers to glean after them; and that 
she had continued from the morning until 
now. 

Q. Did Boaz then address Euth kindly ? 

A. Boaz spoke to Euth and said, Hearest 
thou not, my daughter; go not to glean in 
another field, but abide here with my maid- 
ens, and go after them in the field that they 
reap. 

Q. Did he give his young men a charge 
respecting her ? 

A. He told his reapers not to molest her, 
and said to Euth, When thou art thirsty, go 
to the vessels and drink of the water which 
the young men have drawn. 

Q. Was Euth moved by the kindness of 
her kinsman ? 



176 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. She fell on her face and bowed herself 
to the ground, and said, Why shouldst thou 
take knowledge of me, being a stranger? 

Q. Frequent allusion is made in the Old 
Testament to persons bowing themselves to 
the earth in the presence of others ; was it 
a prevailing custom ? 

A. It seems to have been common to show 
different degrees of resj)ect to different per- 
sons, according to their rank and importance, 
by bending the body in a greater or less 
degree. 

Q. What was the manner of expressing 
these degrees of respect ? 

A. Simply to bow the head was mere com- 
mon civility that marked no particular re- 
gard, while to curve the body low down, 
signified considerable reverence, and to throw 
it entirely down, with the face upon the 
ground, was the greatest homage. 

Q. Was not this last attitude assumed in 
the worship of the great I AM? 

A. It was; and therefore the same term is 
sometimes used to express both actions. The 
language of Scripture to worship another, 
means only to show him the greatest respect 
by an act of profound obeisance. 

Q. What salutation accompanied these 
positions of the body ? 



SALUTATIONS. 177 

A. The common phrases among the Jews 
at meeting with friends and at parting with 
them, were of a religious character. " Be 
thou blessed of Jehovah ; " " The blessing of 
Jehovah be upon thee;" "God be with thee;" 
were the forms in ancient times; and perhaps 
a still more universal expression was, " Peace 
be with you." 

Q. Is this custom or salutation continued ? 

A. We are told that the latter expression 
of "Peace be with you," is general in the 
Eastern countries to this day, and in some 
parts of the East the salutations are tedious, 
and take up a considerable time. The Arab, 
when he meets his friend, begins, while he is 
some distance from him, to make gestures 
and express satisfaction in seeing him. 

Q. What is his form of shaking hands ? 

A. He grasps his friend by the right hand, 
and then brings back his own hand to his 
lips in token of respect. 

Q. Does he offer him any other mark of 
respect ? 

A. He next proceeds to place his hand 
gently under the long beard of the other, 
and honors it with a kiss. He then asks 
particularly again and again after the health 
of his family, and repeats over and over 
the best wishes for his prosperity and peace. 



178 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Are they satisfied with a single exchange 
of this sort ? 

A. They sometimes repeat this ceremony 
ten times with little or no variation; so that 
when a traveller is in haste, it is tiresome 
and inconvenient. 

Q. Was this tedious mode of salutation 
common, of old? 

A. Some such were usual, and we may sup- 
pose, that was the reason that the prophet 
Elisha, when he sent Gehazi in great haste 
to the house of the Shunamite, said to him, 
"If thou meet any man, salute him not; 
and if any salute thee, answer him not 
again/' 

Q. We left Euth bowed before Boaz, asking 
why he was so kind to a stranger; did he 
give her a reason? 

A. He said he had heard all that she had 
done for her mother-in-law since the death 
of her husband ; how she had left her father 
and mother and the land of her nativity, and 
had come to a people she knew not. And 
he added, Surely a full reward will be given 
thee by the Lord God of Jacob, under whose 
wings thou art come to trust. 

Q. What request did Euth then make ?' 

A. That she might continue to be favored 
by Boaz. She told him he had comforted 



RUTH GLEANS. 179 

her by speaking friendly to her, although she 
was not like one of his own hand-maidens. 

Q. Did he ask her to dine with the reapers 
and maidens ? 

A. He said at meal-time, Come eat of the 
bread and dip thy morsel in the vinegar; 
and as she sat by the reapers, he gave her 
parched corn until her hunger was satisfied. 

Q. Would bread dipped in vinegar be pal- 
atable ? 

A. The vinegar here alluded to, no doubt 
was a weak kind of wine which was very 
commonly used by laborers, and was called 
vinegar. The same was drunk by the Eoman 
soldiers, and seems to have been that which 
was presented in a sponge to the blessed 
Jesus when he was upon the cross. 

Q. After Euth had left the reapers at 
dinner-time, what request did Boaz make of 
them ? 

A. He commanded his young men to "Let 
her glean even among the sheaves and to 
reproach her not, and to let fall some of the 
handfuls on purpose for her, and to leave 
them that she might glean them, and to 
rebuke her not." 

Q. How much did Euth glean on that 
day? 

A. She remained in the field till evening 



180 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

and beat out what she had gleaned, and it 
was about an ephah. 

Q. What quantity would that be ? 

A. The Ephah is a measure used among 
the Hebrews, containing three pecks and 
three pints. 

Q. What did Euth do with the grain? 

A. She, took it to her mother-in-law, who 
queried in whose field she had that day 
gleaned, and then said, Blessed is he who did 
take knowledge of thee. 

Q. Was Naomi a.ware that Boaz was a 
kinsman of her husband ? 

A. When Euth spoke of him, she told her 
daughter that he was near of kin — one of 
their next kinsmen. 

A. What did Naomi say to Euth when she 
told her that Boaz had said she must keep 
fast by his young men until the end of har- 
vest? 

A. She said, It is good, my daughter, that 
thou go with his maidens, and that they 
should not meet thee in any other field ; and 
Euth continued to glean with them through 
both the barley and wheat harvests. 

Q. What did Naomi now devise for her 
faithful daughter-in-law ? 

A. In accordance with a custom of very 
ancient date, and one that had become a 



MARRIAGE. 181 

regular statute of the Jewish government, 
Boaz was regarded by Naomi as the legal 
claimant of her son's wife, and sent Ruth to 
Boaz in order that her case might be repre- 
sented. 

Q. What was this custom or statute ? 

A. It required, in case of a man's dying 
without an heir or son, that his nearest rela- 
tion should marry his wife. 

Q. What was the origin of this custom? 

A. It was considered a great misfortune- 
by this people to be childless. It was an 
honor to families to have their names handed 
down in a long succession of sons, from age 
to age and generation to generation. 

Q. Was it from this cause that it was 
thought rather a disgrace to remain single ?: 

A. This was, we have no doubt, the reason 
why it was regarded disgraceful to continue 
in an unmarried state ; and as life had no 
security, it was counted unsafe to delay mar- 
riage lest deatlrshould cut off the privilege 
of posterity. 

Q. Was Euth's going to Boaz regarded 
with favor by him ? 

A. He assured her he would do what was 
right, and bade her fear not for all the city 
of Bethlehem knew that she was a virtuous 
woman. 
16 



182 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Did Boaz acknowledge he was a near 
kinsman ? 

A. He said he was, but that there was one 
nearer than himself; and if he would do the 
part of a kinsman it would be well, but if 
not, he would himself act honorably. 

Q. Did he send a present to Naomi by 
Euth? 

A. He measured u six measures" of barley, 
and gave to Euth, saying, Go not empty to 
thy mother-in-law. 

Q. Did Naomi appear satisfied with what 
had been done ? 

A. She bade her daughter be still, for she 
was sure, after what Euth had told her, that 
Boaz would not rest till the thing was 
iinished. 

Q. What means did Boaz take to discover 
whether the nearer kinsman would conform 
1,0 the law of the land? 

A. He went up to the gate of the city, and 
waited there until his kinsman came by ; he 
then called to him and asked him to turn 
.aside and sit by him. 

Q. Why did Boaz choose the gate of the 
-city as a proper place for their interview ? 

A. In ancient times the gates of a city 
were important places. A considerable space 
was left unoccupied about them, where 



BOAZ AND HIS KINSMAN. 183 

markets were held, and goods of all sorts 
exposed to sale, either in tents or under the 
open sky. 

Q. Would not its publicity render the spot 
objectionable for the discussion of such busi- 
ness as Boaz had in charge? 

A. Here the markets were not only held, 
but it was also the seat of justice, and the 
common place of resort, where all matters 
of law were settled, and public business of 
every kind was transacted. When Abraham 
bought a field of the sons of Heth, the bar- 
gain was made "at the gate of the city." 

Q. What does the expression, " to be 
crushed in the gate," signify ? 

A. This Scriptural expression means, to be 
utterly condemned in judgment by the law; 
we read in Job, "to open the mouth in the 
gate; to reprove in the gate; to turn aside 
judgment in the gate;" all having reference 
to the courts of justice held at the gates of 
the city. 

Q. Did Boaz invite others to his council? 

A. He took ten men, elders of the city, and 
bade them sit down as witnesses. 

Q. Did Boaz proceed at once to speak of 
Euth to his kinsman ? 

A. No ; he first told him, that Naomi had 
a parcel of land, which was their brother 



184 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Elimelech's, to sell, and asked if lie would 
redeem or buy it ; that he had given him 
notice before the inhabitants and elders of 
his people, that he might buy it, as there 
was none other than themselves to redeem it. 

Q. What was the answer of the kinsman ? 

A. He replied, I will redeem it. 

Q. What was Boaz's next proposition*? 

A. That he should name the day when he 
would buy it of Xaomi, and that he must 
also buy it of Euth, the Moabitess, and take 
her as a wife to raise up the name of the 
dead upon his inheritance. 

Q. Was the kinsman willing to do this? 

A. He said, I cannot redeem it myself, lest 
I mar mine own inheritance ; redeem thou 
my right to thyself. 

Q. What was the form of redeeming a 
thing at that time ? 

A. By way of confirming a bargain, a man 
took off his shoe and gave it to his neighbor; 
this was a testimony in Israel. So Boaz' 
kinsman drew off his shoe and gave it to 
Boaz, as a seal to the contract. 

Q. Did Boaz ask the elders and people to 
bear witness in the matter ? 

A. He said unto them, Ye are my wit- 
nesses this day, that I have bought all that 
was Elimelech's, all that was Chilion's and 
Mahlon's of the hand of Naomi. 



MARRIAGE OF BOAZ. 185 

Q. Did he not mention Kuth ? 

A. Yes; moreover, said he, I have pur- 
chased Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of 
Mahlon, to be my wife; that the name of 
the dead be not cut off from among his 
brethren, and from the gate of his place ; and 
added, Ye are my witnesses this day. 

Q. What was the blessing that these wit- 
nesses asked for Ruth ? 

A. That she might be like Rachel and like 
Leah, which two did build the house of 
Israel ; and to Boaz they said, Do thou wor- 
thily in Ephratah, and be famous in Beth- 
lehem. 

Q. What did Boaz and Ruth call their 
first-born ? 

A, They called him Obed. 

Q. Was Naomi gratified ? 

A. She took the child and laid it upon her 
bosom, and became its nurse. 

Q. What was said to Naomi of the child? 

A. " He shall be unto thee a restorer of thy 
life, and a nourisher of thy old age ; for thy 
daughter-in-law, who loved thee, who is bet- 
ter to thee than seven sons, has borne him." 

Q. Who were the descendants of this child? 

A. Jesse was the son of Obed, and David 
was the son of Jesse. 
16* 



CHAPTEE IX. 

SAMUEL THE PROPHET — ELI THE PRIEST 

SAMUEL WAS CALLED — THE ARK OF THE 

COVENANT SAMUEL'S SONS MADE JUDGES 

THE PEOPLE DESIRE A KING. 

Samuel the prophet was the son of Elka- 
nah and Hannah, of the tribe of Levi. 

The 2d book of Samuel was not, it is sup- 
posed, written by him, as his death is record- 
ed in the 25th chapter of 1st Samuel. It is 
probable he was the author thus far, but why 
his name is given to the two books is not 
known. 

From his history we learn, that his father 
and mother " took him up to the house of 
God in Shiloh," when very young. His 
mother brought him to the priest Eli, say- 
ing, "I have lent him to the Lord; as long 
as he liveth, he shall be lent to the Lord." 

Hannah then gave forth a hymn of praise 
and thanksgiving, in which she acknowl- 
edged that the Lord is a God of knowledge, 
and by Him actions are weighed, — that He 
had exalted the lowly and brought down 

(186) 



ELI THE PRIEST. 187 

the arrogant. The bows of the mighty men 
were broken, and they that stumbled were 
girded with strength. 

Eli blessed the parents of Samuel, and they 
returned to their home in Eamah, leaving 
their child with the priest. 

The affection of Hannah for her son was 
manifested in her making for him a "'little 
coat " from year to year, which she brought 
with her w 7 hen she and her husband came 
to offer their yearly sacrifices. When Samuel 
ministered before the Lord, being a child, 
he was girded with a linen ephod. 

Question. Can you describe an ephod? 

Answer. It was an ornamental part of a 
dress worn by the Hebrew priests ; those 
worn by the high-priests were richly orna- 
mented with needle-work. It was without 
sleeves, and opened below the arms on each 
side; one piece covering the front, and the 
other the back of the body, reaching half- 
way to the knees, and was fastened on the 
shoulders by golden buckles set with gems. 
It was worn over the tunic. 

Q. What is a tunic ? 

A. A tunic is a garment that was worn by 
both sexes in ancient Rome, and in the East ; 
it reached below the knee. 

Q. Was Samuel a remarkably good child? 



188 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. We may think so; for we read that 
" he grew and was in favor both with the 
Lord and with man." 

Q. What are we to understand by his 
ministering unto the Lord before Eli? 

A. It was the Jewish custom to have one 
or more assistant priests, and it is probable 
that Samuel filled such an office. 

Q. Was Eli very old ? 

A. He was old and his sight was dim, and 
Samuel remained with him in the temple. 

Q. What occurred to Samuel one night 
after they had retired ? 

A. Before the lamp of the Lord went out 
in the temple, where the "Ark of God" 
was, Eli and Samuel laid down each in his 
place to sleep; and Samuel heard a voice 
calling him, which he thought was Eli's 
voice. 

Q. Had Eli called Samuel ? 

A. Samuel ran to Eli, and said, Here am I; 
for thou calledst me. And Eli said, I called 
not; lie down again. 

Q. Did Samuel lie down again ? 

A. He laid down, and heard his name 
called; and he arose again, and went to Eli 
and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. 
And Eli answered, I called not, my son ; lie 
dow^n a°;am. 



SAMUEL CALLED. 189 

Q. Did Samuel suspect that it might be 
the voice of the Lord that was calling him ? 

A. It is written, that he knew not the 
Lord, not having had the word of the Lord 
revealed to him. But Samuel laid down, as 
Eli told him, and the third time he heard 
the same call, and went to the priest with 
the same language, Here am I; for thou didst 
call me. 

Q. Did not Eli perceive that Samuel might 
be called by the Lord ? 

A. He did now believe that the Lord had 
spoken to the child, and bade him go and lie 
down, and if he was called again, to say, 
Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth. 

Q. Are little children called now ? 

A. The feelings of little children are often 
impressed by the same good Spirit which 
called Samuel; and if they would listen as 
he did, they might hear it calling unto them. 

Q. Is it in this way that all good people 
are called ? 

A. Our heavenly Father speaks to all His 
children by impression. This is the language 
of His Spirit, and it makes us sensible of 
what is right and what is wrong; and it is 
in this way that He communicates His will 
to us. 

Q. Is this what is called the School of 
Christ ? 



190 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. Yes — Christ is the power and wisdom 
of God — the Spirit or Light which reveals, 
not only the will of the Father, but all that 
we know of heavenly or divine things. 

Q. Is this spirit spoken of as a " still, 
small voice ? " 

A. It is justly compared to a still,* small 
voice, that is heard in the retirement from 
all without us. 

Q. May we compare this state of quiet to 
Samuel's having laid down at night, in the 
temple, with the lamp burning ? 

A. It is a beautiful figure of the stillness 
which is favorable for hearing the voice of 
the Lord, with the lamp or light of Christ 
illuminating the soul, which is the temple of 
God. 

Q. If Samuel had always been such a good 
child, why should he not have known that 
the Lord was calling him ? 

A. Children are not always conscious of 
what it is that is hovering around them, 
causing them to have good feelings, and may 
come to their parents as Samuel came to Eli, 
to know what it is. 

Q. After Samuel had lain down, as Eli had 
instructed him, what did he hear? 

A. He heard the voice as before calling, 
Samuel, Samuel! and he answered, Speak. 



6 J 



SAMUEL CALLED. 191 

for thy servant heareth. He was then told 
that, as Eli had not restrained his sons and 
they had done wickedly, that the judgments 
of the Lord should rest upon his house for 
the iniquity which Eli knew. 

Q. Did Samuel repeat to Eli what had 
been told him ? 

A. Samuel feared to speak to Eli of what 
he had heard, and lay till morning, when he 
opened the doors of the temple. 

Q. Did Eli inquire of Samuel what the 
Lord had said unto him ? 

A. He called him, saying, My son, what is 
the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee ? 
I pray thee hide it not from me ! 

Q. Did he intimate to Samuel that evil 
might come upon him if he concealed any- 
thing ? 

A. Yes ; and it is said that " Samuel told 
him every whit, and hid nothing from him." 

Q. How did Eli receive it? 

A, He said, It is the Lord; let him do 
what seemeth him good. 

Q. Did Samuel continue to receive evi- 
dences of divine favor ? 

A, The record says, He grew, and the 
Lord was with him, and did let none of his 
words fall to the ground. 

Q. Did his fame spread abroad ? 



192 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. "All Israel, from Dan even to Beer- 
sheba, knew that Samuel was established to 
be a prophet of the Lord." 

Q. Where is it said that the Lord revealed 
himself to Samuel? 

A. In Shiloh. 

Q. What does the name Shiloh signify ? 

A. Shiloh signifies peace, abundance. 

Q. What disaster befel the ark of the 
covenant ? 

A. The Israelites went out to battle against 
the Philistines, and they believed that if the 
ark of the covenant was brought to them 
that they would be victorious, and the sons 
of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, took it into 
the camp. 

Q. In what way did the Israelites express 
their feelings ? 

A. When the ark came into the camp, all 
Israel shouted with a great shout, so that 
" the earth rang." 

Q. Did the Philistines wonder what the 
noiise meant? 

A. They inquired; and when they heard 
that the ark was brought into the camp of 
the Israelites, they were afraid, and said, 
" God is come into the camp ! " 

Q. Did they then cease hostilities? 

A. No ; they seemed the more determined 



ARK OF THE COVENANT. 193 

to overcome Israel, and they succeeded, and 
took the ark of the covenant by force, 

Q. Can you tell us what this ark contained 
which occasioned it to be so highly valued ? 

A. The tables of the law were deposited 
in it. 

Q. Can you describe it ? 

A. This sacred chest, as it was called, is 
said to have been made of Shittim wood, 
two cubits and a half in length, and a cubit 
and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. 

Q. What would be its size according to the 
measure with which we are more familiar ? 

A. A common cubit is said to be a foot and 
a half, and the sacred cubit a full yard, or 
two common cubits; we cannot therefore 
know its exact proportions. 

Q. What kind of wood is Shittim wood ? 

A. Historians tell us, that there is reason 
to believe that it was the wood of the black 
Acacia. This tree flourishes in some parts 
of Egypt, and abundantly through the des- 
erts of Arabia. 

Q. What is its size and what are its quali- 
ties? 

A. It is the size of a large mulberry-tree, 

with rough bark and spreading branches, 

well supplied with thorns ; the wood is hard, 

tough, and capable of receiving a very smooth 

17 



194 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

and beautiful polish. It produces flowers of 
a pleasant fragrance. 

Q. Was the chest or coffer ornamented ? 

A. " It was covered with plates of gold, 
and on the top of it all round, ran a kind 
of gold crown, and two cherubim were over 
the cover. It had four rings of gold, two on 
each side, through which staves were put, 
by which it was carried." 

Q. Was Eli troubled, that the ark of the 
covenant had been removed from the temple ? 

A. He was greatly troubled, and although 
he was blind, he went out and sat on a seat 
by the way-side watching; for it is said, his 
heart trembled for the ark of God. 

Q. How did he hear what had befallen it? 

A. A messenger came to Shiloh the same 
day, with his clothes rent and earth upon 
his head, and when he told what had occurred, 
" all the city cried out," and Eli inquired what 
the noise meant. 

Q. Did the messenger then come to Eli ? 

A. He came to Eli and told him that Israel- 
had fled before the Philistines, and that his 
two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. 

Q. Did he make mention of the ark of the 
covenant ? 

A. He told the priest that the ark was 
taken ; and when Eli heard it, he fell from 



ARK OF THE COVENANT. 195 

off his seat backward by the side of the gate, 
and being an old man and heavy, he broke 
his neck. 

Q. How long had Eli judged Israel ? 

A. He had been a judgie in Israel forty years. 

Q. What did the Philistines do with the ark ? 

A. They brought it from Ebenezer unto 
Ashdod, and took it into the house of Dagon. 

Q. Who or what was Dagon ? 

A. An idol worshipped by the Philistines. 
Dagon, in Hebrew, signifies a large fish. 

Q. What is the scriptural account of Dagon 
after the ark of the covenant was placed be- 
side this idol ? 

A. That when the people went into the 
house early in the morning, they found 
Dagon had fallen upon his face before the 
ark of the Lord, and that his head and both 
his hands were cut off, and only the stump 
of Dagon was left. 

Q. What effect had this upon those who 
saw it ? 

A. It is written that neither the priests, 
nor any that went into Dagon's house, would 
tread upon the threshold afterward. 

Q. Were the people of Ashdod anxious to 
have the ark taken from them? 

A. When they saw what had been done, 
they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall 



196 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

not abide with us, for His hand is sore upon 
us, and upon Dagon our god. 

Q. What did they purpose to do with it? 

A. They gathered all the lords of the Phil- 
istines, and inquired of them what should be 
done with it; and they answered, Let it be 
carried to Grath. 

Q. Was it taken to Gath ? 

A. It was taken there; but trouble came 
upon that city, and it was removed to Ekron. 
The people of Ekron were not willing to 
have it, and said, Send it away to its own 
place. 

Q. What was the advice of the "priests 
and diviners," whom the Philistines con- 
sulted ? 

A. They told them that if they sent it 
away, not to send it empty, but to return a 
trespass offering. 

Q. What was meant by a trespass offering? 

A. The Mosaic law required that, if prop- 
erty had been dishonestly acquired, it should 
be returned with the addition of one-fifth of 
its value. 

Q. In case the thing stolen could not be 
returned, what did they do ? 

A. In cases of theft, the general law was, 
that double the amount stolen should be re- 
stored ; — if a sheep, or an ox, for instance, 



ARK OF THE COVENANT. 197 

had been stolen and slain, the restoration for 
the first was to be fourfold — for the second, 
fivefold. 

Q. But what was done if he who had taken 
an article was unable to pay the price ? 

A. When the thief was unable to make 
restitution, he was sold, with his wife and 
children, into bondage. 

Q. Did the government receive part of the 
fines? 

A. No ; they were paid to the injured per- 
son. 

Q. What restitution did the priests and 
lords propose should be made to the Israel- 
ites? 

A. Jewels of gold were to be sent with the 
ark; and the ark was to be placed on a new 
cart drawn by two kine which had never 
been yoked, and their calves were to be left 
at home; and the coffer containing the jew- 
els of gold was to be placed beside the ark 
on the cart ; and they were to go by the way 
of the coast of Beth-shemesh. 

Q. Where was Beth-shemesh situated? 

A. It was a city of Judah, thirty miles 
west from Jerusalem, given to the Levites. 

Q. Was there a place of the same name in 
Egypt? 

A. Yes; and the Greek signification of 
17* 



198 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

the name is, the City of the Sun. This was 
the ancient seat of the Egyptian worship of 
the sun. 

Q. Was the ark of the covenant carried 
upon the cart by Beth-shemesh ? 

A. It is written, that the kine took the 
straight way to Beth-shemesh, and turned 
neither to the right hand nor the left, lowing 
as they went; and five lords of the Philis- 
tines accompanied the ark to the borders of 
the land. 

Q. Did the inhabitants receive it ? 

A. They were reaping their wheat harvest 
in the valley, and when they saw the ark 
they were rejoiced. 

Q. What did they do ? 

A. They brought it into the field of Joshua, 
a Bethshemite, where there was a great 
stone, upon which they put the coffer of 
jewels, and they broke up the cart, and 
offered the kine as a burnt-offering unto the 
Lord. 

Q. What kind of animals are kine ? 

A. Kine is the plural of cow. 

Q. To whom did the Bethshemites send 
word that they had possession of the ark ? 

A. They sent messengers to the inhabi- 
tants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, Come down 
and fetch it up to you. 



ELEAZAR. 199 

Q. For what is Kirjath-jearim noted? 

A. As the city where the ark was lodged 
many years in the house of Abinadab. Jeru- 
salem, where the ark was afterwards taken 
by David, is about nine miles distant from 
Kirj at h- j e ar i m . 

Q. Who was selected as suitable to take 
charge of the ark? 

A. Eleazar the son of Abinadab was " sanc- 
tified" to keep the ark of the Lord 

Q. How long was it in Eleazar's charge ? 

A. Twenty years; during which there was 
great lamentation in Israel. 

Q. What did Samuel advise them to do, in 
order that they might be delivered from the 
Philistine troubles ? 

A. He told them to put away their strange 
gods, and return unto the Lord with all their 
hearts, that they might serve Him only, and 
He would deliver them from the hand of the 
Philistines. 

Q. Did they take heed to Samuel's coun- 
sel ? 

A. They put away Baalim and Ashtoroth, 
and served the Lord only. 

Q. What were Baalim and Ashtoroth ? 

A. Baalim signifies images or statues of 
Baal, a god among the Phoenicians ; and 



200 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Ashtoreth, of which Ashtoroth is the plural, 
was a goddess of the same people. 

Q. How came they among the Israelites ? 

A. The worship of these idols was intro- 
duced to a considerable extent in Israel. 

Q. Did the Israelites appeal to Samuel for 
help? 

A. They said to Samuel, Cease not to cry 
unto the Lord our God, for us, that He may 
save us from the hand of the Philistines. 

Q. Was the prayer of Samuel heard? 

A. Samuel cried unto the Lord, and He 
heard him, and the Philistines were subdued 
and came no more into the coast of Israel 
during the life of Samuel. 

Q. Where did Samuel set a stone in com- 
memoration of this deliverance ? 

A. He set a stone between Mizpeh and 
Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, 
saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. 

Q. Were the cities which the Philistines 
had taken from Israel restored to them ? 

A. All the cities were restored from Ekron 
even unto Gath, and there was peace between 
Israel and the Amorites. 

Q. Did Samuel continue to judge Israel ? 

A. Samuel went from year to year in cir- 
cuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpeh, and 
judged Israel in all those places. 



A KING DESIRED. 201 

Q. Where was his home ? 

A. His home was in Kamah, where he 
built an altar unto the Lord. 

Q. Did Samuel make judges of his sons? 

A. As he grew old, he made his sons 
judges in Israel. 

Q. Did they walk in the footsteps of their 
father? 

A. His "sods walked not in his ways, and 
turned aside after lucre, and took bribes and 
perverted judgment." 

Q. What proposition did the elders of 
Israel make to Samuel, in order to relieve 
themselves of these unrighteous judges ? 

A. " The elders gathered themselves to- 
gether and came to Eamath and said unto 
Samuel, Behold thou art old. and thy sons 
walk not in thy ways; now make us a king 
to judge us like all nations." 

Q. Did Samuel unite with this proposal? 

A. It displeased him when they asked for 
a king, and he prayed unto the Lord. 

Q. What was he instructed to say to the 
people ? 

A- He was told not to oppose them, but to 
show them what a king would require of 
them; that they would have to give him a 
part of all their possession, and that he 
would appoint their sons and daughters to 



202 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

do his bidding, and that they would be his 
servants. 

Q. After being told this, did they still 
desire a king ? 

A. Yes ; although Samuel told them they 
would regret it in the day when all these 
things should come to pass, yet they said, 
Nay, but we will have a king. 

Q. Did Samuel hearken unto their voice 
and make them a king ? 

A. The Lord said unto Samuel, Make them 
a king. And Samuel said unto the men of 
Israel, Go every man unto his own city. 

Q. What did the prophet propose to do ? 

A. He had been shown whom he should 
make king, and he was to wait until the 
young man should come to him. 

Q. Who was the young man ? 

A. His name was Saul, and he was the son 
of Kish, a mighty man of power, of the tribe 
of Benjamin. 

Q. What is said of Saul? 

A. " That he was a goodly and choice 
young man, and there was not among the 
children of Israel a goodlier person than he. 
From his shoulders and upwards he was 
higher than any of the people." 



CHAPTEE X. 

SAUL SAUL ANOINTED KING — SAMUEL'S IN- 
TEGRITY — AMALEK — DISOBEDIENCE OF SAUL 
— DAVID ANOINTED KING. 

Question. Upon what errand was Saul sent 
by his father ? 

Answer. The asses of Kish, his father, were 
lost, and he told Saul to take one of the ser- 
vants with him, and go see if he could find 
them. 

Q. Were they successful ? 

A. After looking for them in many places 
and not finding them, Saul proposed return- 
ing, lest his father should be more concerned 
about them, than the animals. 

Q. Did the servant approve of their return- 
ing? 

A. He proposed that they should first con- 
sult a man of God who lived in that city, and 
who was an honorable man ; and it was said, 
that all things which he said came to pass, 
and he might perhaps tell them which way 
to go. 

Q. Why did Saul feel an objection to going 
to the seer ? 

(203) 



204 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. He said that the bread was spent in 
their vessels, and they had no present to take 
to him ; but he queried, What have we ? 

Q. Had the servant something in his pos- 
session? 

A. He said that he had at hand the fourth 
part of a shekel of silver that he would give 
the ••man of God" to tell them their way. 

Q. How much would the fourth part of a 
shekel be ? 

A. About twelve and a half cents; the 
value of a shekel is computed by some to be 
fifty, and by others, sixty cents. 

Q. What reply did Saul make to his ser- 
vant ? 

A. He replied, Well said ; come let us go : 
and they went to the seer. 

Q. Does seer mean the same as prophet? 

A. Yes; it implies the same. In the early 
ages, when a man wished to know the divine 
will, he would say, Come let us go to the 
seer; but the term prophet was substituted 
for that of seer. 

Q. With whom did they meet on their 
way to Samuel ? 

A. As they went up the hill, they met 
young maidens going out to draw water, and 
they asked if the seer was there. 

Q. Could they tell them ? 



SAUL BEFORE SAMUEL. 205 

A. They said, He is ; make haste, for about 
this time he will go up to the high place, to 
bless the sacrifice before the people will eat, 
and you will be likely to meet him. 

Q. Did they meet him ? 

A. They did; and when Samuel saw Saul, 
he knew it was he that should be anointed 
king. 

Q. Did Saul speak to Samuel? 

A. Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, 
and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the 
seer's house is. 

Q. What was Samuel's answer ? 

A. I am the seer; go before me to the 
high place, and ye shall eat with me to-day, 
and to-morrow I will tell thee all in my heart, 
and will let thee go. 

Q. Did Saul inquire about the asses? 

A. Samuel told them that the asses which 
were lost three days ago were found, and 
they need not be troubled about them. 

Q. Did Samuel intimate to Saul that he 
was a favorite among the people? 

A. He said to Saul, On whom is all the 
desire of Israel ? Is it not on thee and on all 
thy father's house ? 

Q. How did Saul receive this ? 

A. Saul replied, Am I not a Benjamite of 
the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my 
18 



206 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

family the least of all the families of the 
tribe of Benjamin, wherefore speakest thou 
so to me ? 

Q. Was Saul especially noticed by Samuel 
at the dinner-hour? 

A, He brought Saul and his servant into 
the parlor, and made them sit in the chief 
place among those who were bidden, of whom 
there were about thirty persons. 

Q. Had Saul a particular dish brought him? 

A. Samuel directed the cook to bring to 
Saul that which had been set apart for him ; 
and he said to Saul, Eat, for it has been kept 
for thee since I invited the people. 

Q. After they had dined, did Samuel talk 
with Saul ? 

A. After dinner they came down from the 
high place, and the prophet took Saul upon 
the top of the house and communed with 
him. 

Q. Did he then acquaint him with his pur- 
pose to make him king? 

A. Not at that time; but in the morning 
they arose early, and Samuel called Saul 
and said, " Up, that I may send thee away;" 
and Saul arose and they went out together. 

Q. Did Samuel then anoint Saul? 

A, He bade Saul send his servant before 
them; and after the man had passed on, he 



SAUL ANOINTED KING. 207 

said to Saul, Stand thou still a while, that I 
may show thee the word of God. 

Q. What was Samuel's next act? 

A. He took a vial of oil and poured it 
upon Saul's head, and kissed him, and said, 
Is it not because the Lord hath anointed 
thee to be captain over his inheritance? 

Q. Did Samuel then tell Saul what should 
occur through the day ? 

A. He said to Saul, that, after he left him, 
he would meet two men by Rachel's sepul- 
chre, and they would tell him that the asses 
which he went to seek were found, and that 
his father was sorrowing for his son. 

Q. Was he to meet other persons on his 
way? 

A. Yes; three men who were going to 
Bethel, and they would offer him two loaves 
of bread, which he should receive at their 
hand. 

Q. What should he meet with after that ? 

A. As he came to the hill of God, where 
there was a garrison of Philistines, he 
would meet a company of prophets coming 
down from the high place, with a psaltery, a 
tabret, a pipe, and a harp before them, and 
they would prophesy. 

Q. What was Saul to do when he met the 
prophets? 



208 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. The Spirit of the Lord would come 
upon him, and he should prophesy with 
them, and he should be turned into another 
man. 

Q. Where was Saul to go after this ? 

A. He was to go to G-ilgal, and wait for 
Samuel seven days; and when he came, he 
would tell him what to do. 

Q. Did these things come to pass, as Sam- 
uel prophesied ? 

A. All these signs came to pass that day. 

Q. Was Saul, when among the prophets, 
recognized by any who had previously 
known him? 

A. He was recognized; and the people 
said, What is this that is come unto the son 
of Kish ? Is Saul also among the prophets ? 

Q. What is said of this last query ? 

A. That it has passed into a proverb. 

Q. After he was done prophesying and 
had come down from the high place, whom 
did he see ? 

A. His uncle, who inquired where Saul 
and his servant had been. 

Q. Did Saul tell him ? 

A. He told them that they went to seek 
the asses, and when they could not find them 
they went to Samuel. 

Q. Did the uncle want to know what the 
prophet said to them ? 



SAUL PRESENTED AS KING. 209 

A. He said to Saul, Tell me, I pray thee, 
what Samuel said unto you. 

Q. Did Saul tell him all ? 

A. He told him that Samuel had assured 
them that the asses were found ; but of the 
matter of the kingdom he said nothing. 

Q. Did Samuel tell the Israelites he had 
chosen them a king? 

A. He called the people together at Miz- 
peh, and told them, as they rejected the 
counsel he had given, and would have a king, 
they must present themselves before the 
Lord by their tribes and by their thousands. 

Q. For what purpose ? 

A. To see who would be chosen king. 
After they were gathered, the tribe of Ben- 
jamin was selected, — and then the family 
of Matri, and out of that family Saul the 
son of Kish. 

Q. Was Saul present ? 

A. When they sought him they could not 
find him for some time, for he had hidden 
himself. 

Q. After he was found, what was done 
with him? 

A. He was presented to the people, and 
Samuel said to them, " See ye him whom the 
Lord hath chosen; there is none like him 
18* 



210 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

among all the people. And the people shouted 
' God save the king.' " 

Q. Did Samuel establish laws for the gov- 
ernment of the kingdom ? 

A. He wrote the form of government in a 
book, and it is said, laid it up before the 
Lord. 

Q. Were all the people satisfied with the 
new king ? 

A. The sons of Belial despised Saul, and 
said, How shall this man save us ? and they 
brought him no presents ; but Saul held his 
peace. 

Q. Had Samuel another interview with 
the people collectively ? 

A. He addressed all Israel, and brought 
before them his course of conduct from his 
childhood, unto that day when he was old 
and gray-headed; and he told them, if they 
felt he had defrauded or oppressed any, or 
if he had received a bribe to blind his eyes, 
he wished them to bear witness against him, 
and if he had done wrong he would make 
amends for it. 

Q. How did the people answer this appeal? 

A. " They said, Thou hast not defrauded us 
nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken 
aught of any man's hand." 

Q. Did Samuel allude to their king ? 



AMALEK. 211 

A. He said, Behold the king whom you 
have desired. If ye will fear the Lord and 
serve him and obey his voice, and not rebel 
against His commandments, and also obey 
the king that ruleth over you, the Lord will 
be with you. 

Q. If they turned aside, what would hap- 
pen to them ? 

A. Both they and their king should be de- 
stroyed. 

Q. Did Samuel assure them of his con- 
tinued interest ? 

A. He told them he would continue to 
teach them the good and right way, and to 
pray for them. 

Q. What compensation did he ask for 
this ? 

A. That they should fear the Lord and 
serve Him in truth with all their heart, and 
consider what great things He had done for 
them. 

Q. What was Samuel's advice to Saul ? 

A. He said unto Saul, The Lord sent me 
to anoint thee to be king over Israel; now 
hearken unto the voice of the words of the 
Lord: go smite Amalek, and all that he has; 
spare nothing. 

Q. Did Saul obey this commandment ? 
A. Saul went out against Amalek ; but 



212 BIBLICAL HISTOBY. 

instead of destroying all, as he had been 
directed, he saved Agag the king, and the 
best of the sheep and the oxen, and all that 
was good; but that which was vile and refuse, 
they cast off utterly. 

Q. When Samuel again saw Saul, what 
was Saul's greeting ? 

A. Blessed be thou of the Lord ; I have 
performed the commandment of the Lord. 

Q. Did Samuel make a reply? 

A. Samuel said, What meaneth then this 
bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the 
lowing of the oxen which I hear? 

Q. Did Saul answer this question ? 

A. Saul told Samuel they were brought 
from the Amalekites ; the people had spared 
the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice 
unto the Lord, and the rest had been utterly 
destroyed. 

Q. Did Samuel reprove Saul ? 

A. He said to Saul, Stay, and I will tell 
thee what the Lord hath said to me to- 
night. 

Q. Was Saul willing to hear ? 

A. Saul was willing, and said to Samuel, 
Say on ; and the prophet continued, When 
thou wast little in thine own sight, wast 
thou not made the head of the tribes of 
Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king? 



AG AG. 213 

and he then sent thee on a journey to de- 
stroy the Amalekites ; wherefore didst thou 
not obey His voice, but didst fly upon the 
spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord ? 

Q. Did Saul attempt to justify himself? 

A. He replied, I have obeyed the voice of 
the Lord, and gone the way which He sent 
me, — have made Agag a prisoner; and the 
people reserved the chief of the things which 
would have been utterly destroyed, the sheep 
and the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord in 
Gilgal. 

Q. What did Samuel say to this ? 

A. Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt- 
offerings and sacrifices as in obeying his 
voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacri- 
fice, and to hearken than the fat of rams? 

Q. Is there special teaching in this account? 

A. There is deep instruction to be gathered 
from it. In another place we have alluded 
to Amalek as representing the self-will of 
man, and by carrying out the figure we can 
perceive its application. 

Q, What would Agag the king represent? 

A. The ruling spirit of the selfish dominion. 

Q. What the sheep and oxen which were 
reserved, with the chief of all that was good ? 

A. These may represent those things which 
are especially prized, and some of them may 



214 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

seem innocent and useful, but if we are com- 
manded to remove or destroy them, we are 
to do so unreservedly. 

Q. What would be the probable conse- 
quence of our <not complying with what we 
might deem a rigid command ? 

A. Similar to Saul's ; an evidence that we 
had disobeyed the divine command; and we 
should doubtless be reminded, that "obedi- 
ence was better than sacrifice, and to hearken 
than the fat of rams." 

Q. Did Saul seem sensible of his error ? 

A. Saul acknowledged that he had sinned 
and transgressed the commandment of the 
Lord. 

Q. What was the reason he gave for so 
doing ? 

A. That he feared the people, and obeyed 
their voice. 

Q. Did he wish Samuel to pardon the sin, 
that he might worship with Samuel? 

A. He desired this, but Samuel said, No, 
and turned to go away, saying, Thou hast 
rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord 
hath rejected thee from being king over Is- 
rael. 

Q. Did Saul attempt to detain him? 

A. He laid hold upon the skirt of Samuel's 
mantle, and rent it. 



DISOBEDIENCE OF SAUL. 215 

Q. Did Samuel feel this circumstance to be 
significant of the state of the kingdom? 

A. Samuel said to Saul, The Lord hath 
rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this 
day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine 
that is better than thou. 

Q. What did he mean by the kingdom be- 
ing given to another? 

A. Saul having lost the state of " littleness 
in his own eyes," in which he was anointed 
king, he was no longer worthy of the honor; 
and another, more humble, should rule over 
Israel. 

Q. Did Samuel see Saul again ? 

A, He came no more to see him, but he 
continued to mourn for him. 

Q. Was Samuel reminded he had another 
duty ? 

A. The language to Samuel was, How long 
wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have re- 
jected him from reigning over Israel? Fill 
thine horn with oil, and go to Jesse the 
Bethlemite, for I have provided me a king 
among his sons. 

Q. Did Samuel fear to go? 

A. He said, How can I go ? if Saul hear it, 
he will kill me. 

Q. Was it told him what he should do to 
avoid this danger? 



216 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. He was directed by the Lord to take a 
heifer, and call Jesse to the sacrifice, and it 
should then be shown him what he should do. 

Q. What did the elders of Bethlehem say 
to Samuel? 

A. When the elders of the town saw him, 
they trembled, and said, Comest thou peace- 
ably? Samuel answered, Peaceably, I am 
come to sacrifice unto the Lord. 

Q. What did he direct them to do ? 

A. To sanctify or wash themselves, and 
come with him to the sacrifice. 

Q. Were Jesse and his sons there? 

A. Yes 5 Samuel invited them to the sacri- 
fice. 

Q. Did the prophet at once select him 
whom he was to anoint king ? 

A. Samuel, when he saw the eldest, said, 
Surely the Lord's anointed is before me ; but 
he was reminded that he was not to judge 
from the countenance nor stature, for man 
looketh on the outward appearance, but the 
Lord looketh at the heart. 

Q. Were the other sons brought before 
Samuel? 

A. One after another passed before him, 
but to all was the same answer given, Nei- 
ther hath the Lord chosen this. 

Q. How many did Jesse call ? 



BAY ID ANOINTED KING. 217 

A. He caused seven to come before the 
prophet ; and when Samuel felt that he could 
not anoint any one of them, he asked Jesse 
if all his children were there. 

Q. What was the answer of Jesse? 

A. .There remaineth yet the youngest, and 
behold he keepeth sheep. 

Q. Did Samuel request that he should be 
sent for ? 

A. Yes ; he said to Jesse, Send and fetch, 
him ; we will not sit down till he come. 

Q. Was he brought ? ,. 

A. A youth of a ruddy and beautiful coun- 
tenance, and goodly to look upon, stood be- 
fore the prophet. 

Q. What was the command Samuel re- 
ceived ? 

A. Arise, anoint him, for this is he; and 
Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him 
in the midst of his brethren; and the spirit 
of the Lord came, or rested upon David froim 
that day forward. 
19 



CHAPTEE XI. 

SAUL IN TROUBLE— DAVID — GOLIAH GOLIAH's 

DEATH JONATHAN — DAVID' S MARRIAGE — 

HIS FLIGHT FROM SAUL — AHIMELECH — ABI- 
ATHAR. 

Question. What is said of Saul's troubles? 

Answer. That the spirit of the Lord de- 
parted from him, and an evil spirit troubled 
him. 

Q. What proposition did Saul's servants 
make to him, in order to relieve them ? 

A. That they should seek out a man who 
was a cunning player on the harp, and when 
Saul felt that the evil spirit was upon him, 
this man should play for him. 

Q. Did Saul like this idea ? 

A. He bade them to provide one that 
could play well, and to bring him. 

Q. Where did they find one ? 

A. They had seen a son of Jesse, the 
Bethlemite, that was cunning in playing; a 
valiant man, and prudent in business as well 
as being comely in person, and the Lord was 

(218_) 



DAVID. 219 

with him, and they would like Saul to see 
him. 

Q. Did Saul send for the son of Jesse ? 

A. He sent messengers to Jesse, saying, 
Send me thy son David, who is with the 
sheep. 

Q. Did Jesse comply with Saul's request? 

A. Yes ; he took an ass laden with bread 
and a bottle of wine and a kid, and sent them 
by David to Saul. 

Q. Was Saul pleased with David ? 

A. He loved him greatly, and he became 
his armor-bearer. 

Q. What request did he make of Jesse? 

A. That he would allow David to remain 
with him, for he had found favor in his 
sight. 

Q. What office did David fill? 

A. When Saul felt troubled and depressed 
David took his harp and played for him, and 
Saul was refreshed by it. 

Q. Did the Israelites and Philistines renew 
their conflict? 

A. They gathered their armies for battle ; 
and there was one among the Philistines of 
gigantic size and strength, whose coat of 
mail weighed five thousand shekels of brass, 
and the staff of his spear was like a weaver's 
beam; and he defied the armies of Israel. 



220 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Did he request to meet one of the Is- 
raelites in single combat ? 

A. He called to the Israelites, and said, 
Choose you a man, and let him come down 
to me. If he be able to fight with me, then 
we will be your servants, but if I prevail 
against him, then you shall be our servants. 

Q. What w T as the name of this giant? 

A. Goliah of Gath, whose height was six 
cubits and a span, or nine feet six inches. 

Q. Were the Israelites intimidated by 
him ? 

A. They were dismayed and greatly afraid. 

Q. Did any of the sons of Jesse join Saul's 
army ? 

A. Three of them went to battle, but 
David returned to feed his father's sheep at 
Bethlehem. 

Q. How long did the Philistine present 
himself for combat ? 

A. For forty days, morning and evening, 
he drew near the Israelites. 

Q. Was Jesse uneasy about his sons ? 

A. He was thoughtful about them, and 
sent David to the camp with parched corn 
and bread for them, and to see how they 
fared. 

Q. In what condition did David find the 
Israelites? 



DAVID. 221 

A. They were on the eve of a battle; 
army was arrayed against army, and Goliah 
vaunting himself before them. 

Q. Were his brethren pleased to see him ? 

A. When David inquired of the Israelites, 
who were in great fear of the giant, who he 
was, and what was said respecting the man 
who should overcome him, Eliab, David's 
eldest brother, was greatly displeased. 

Q. What did he say to David ? 

A. He spoke reprovingly, and said, Why 
earnest thou hither, and with whom hast 
thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? 
I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thy 
heart, for thou hast come down to see the 
battle. 

Q. Did David manifest anger at this 
rebuke ? 

A. He merely said to his brother, What 
have I done ; is there not a cause ? and then 
turned from him to another to inquire fur- 
ther about Goliah. 

Q. Did Saul send for David ? 

A. When Saul heard that David was there, 
he sent for him. 

Q. Did David tell Saul that he was willing 
to go against the Philistine? 

A. He said, Let no man's heart fail because 
of the Philistine ; I will go and fight with him. 
19* 



222 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Was Saul willing David should go ? 

A. He told David he was not able ; for he 
was but a youth, and Goliah had been a man 
of war from his youth. 

Q. What proof did David give of his valor ? 

A. David told Saul of his encounter with 
the lion and the bear, which came into his 
father's fold and took a lamb out of the 
flock. 

Q. Did he overcome the lion and the bear? 

A. Yes; he slew them both, and he said ? 
This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one 
of them, seeing he has defied the armies of 
the living God. 

Q. Where did David place his confidence? 

A. He believed that He who delivered him 
from the paw of the lion and the paw of the 
bear, would deliver him out of the hand of 
this Philistine. 

Q. After hearing this, what did Saul say 
to David? 

A. He said, Go ; and the Lord be with thee. 

Q. Did he offer David his armor ? 

A. He clothed him with it; he put an hel- 
met of brass upon his head and armed him 
with a coat of mail; and David girded his 
sword upon his armor. 

Q. Did he go forth thus equipped ? 

A. He attempted to go ; but found he could 



GOLIAH. 223 

not; and said to Saul that he could not go 
with these, for he had not proved them; and 
he put them off. 

Q. "What preparation did David make to 
meet Goliah? 

A. He took his staff in his hand, and chose 
five smooth stones out of the brook, and put 
them in a shepherd's bag which he had. His 
sling was in his hand, and he went to meet 
the Philistine. 

Q. Did the Philistine advance toward 
David ? 

A. He drew near to David, and the man 
that bore the shield, went before him. 

Q. How did he feel when he saw David? 

A. He disdained him for his youth, and 
said, Am I a dog that thou comest to me 
with staves; and added, Come to me and I 
will give thy flesh to the fowls of the air and 
to the beasts of the field. 

Q. What was David's answer? 

A. Thou comest to me with a sword and 
with a spear and with a shield ; but I come 
to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts. 

Q. What did David do when the Philistine 
came towards him ? 

A. When Goliah drew near, he put his 
hand in his bag and took out a stone and 



224 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

slung it; and it struck the giant in the fore- 
head, and he fell to the earth. 

Q. What became of the Philistines after 
Goliah was slain ? 

A. When they saw their champion was 
dead, they fled. 

Q. Did Israel pursue them ? 

A. Israel arose with a shout and pursued 
them to the gates of Ekron, after which they 
returned and spoiled their tents. 

Q. Is the history of David and Goliah sus- 
ceptible of spiritual interpretation ? 

A. We think it one of the most forcible 
illustrations of the advantage to be derived 
from a perfect trust in the divine power, 
that we have upon record. 

Q. To what may Goliah be likened? 

A. To a strong self-will, which defies or 
rebels against the divine will. 

Q. What spirit would David represent? 

A. An innocent and child-like spirit, which, 
trusting alone in the parental arm, is ena- 
bled to overcome an enem}^ even of gigantic 
proportions, with as simple a weapon as a 
smooth stone from the brook. 

Q. To what may the armor of Saul be 
compared ? 

A. To the most perfect defence which man 
could invent for his own protection. 



BIBLICAL FIGURES. 225 

Q. Would it have been unsafe for David to 
have trusted in it ? 

A. It probably would have proved as in- 
effectual as the coat of mail worn by the 
Philistine. In the remark of David that 
he "had not proved" Saul's armor, there is 
deep instruction. 

Q. What does it imply ? 

A. That David knew not the efficiency of 
that in which Saul trusted, for he had not 
proved it ; but in the power which had enabled 
him to overcome the lion and the bear, he 
had full confidence. 

Q. Are there dispositions in the human 
mind, which may be compared to the lion 
and the bear ? 

A. In the book of Isaiah, the varied pro- 
pensities of our nature are beautifully re- 
presented by that state in which the lion 
and the lamb can lie down together, and a 
little child could lead them. 

Q. Is there anything said about the bear? 

A. Yes ; " the cow and the bear shall feed; 
their young ones shall lie down together, 
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox." 

Q. What is designed to be conveyed by 
these figures ? 

A. They describe a state of spiritual har- 
mony in which every faculty of the mind is 



226 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

brought under heavenly dominion, or the in- 
fluence of divine love. This exalted condition 
is elsewhere spoken of as a mountain. "He 
that putteth his trust in me shall possess the 
land, and shall inherit my holy mountain. 

Q. Are there other texts in which the holy 
mountain is alluded to ? 

A. Yes; a number, and none perhaps, 
more encouraging than that in the chapter 
already referred to in Isaiah, where it says, 
" They shall not hurt or destroy in all my 
holy mountain." 

Q. Did Saul send for David, when he was 
told that he had slain Groliah ? 

A. He had before inquired who " the strip, 
ling " was, and when he was told it was 
David, he sent for him. 

Q. Did David return to his father's house 
after his interview with the king? 

A. No; Saul was not willing he should go, 
and took him into his own service. 
Q. Had Saul a son ? 

A. He had a son named Jonathan, who 
loved David so much that it was said, " The 
soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of 
David, and Jonathan loved him as his own 
soul." 

Q. How did Jonathan manifest his love for 
David? 



JONATHAN. 227 

A. We are told that they made a covenant 
because of their love; by which we under- 
stand that a mutual feeling existed between 
them, — and Jonathan placed upon David his 
own princely apparel, and gave him his 
sword, bow, and girdle. 

Q. Did David accompany Saul when he 
left home ? 

A. Wherever Saul went, David was with 
him, and behaved so wisely, that he was a 
favorite, not only with Saul's servants, but 
with all the people. 

Q. What occasioned Saul to be displeased 
as they were returning from the overthrow 
of the Philistines ? 

A. The women came out from the cities 
with singing and instruments of music to 
meet them, and said, one to another, Saul 
has slain his thousands, and David his ten 
thousands. 

Q. Did Saul endeavor to take David's life? 

A. He cast a javelin at him twice, which 
David avoided; and this caused Saul to fear 
him, because he believed that the Lord was 
with him. 

Q. Did he wish David to become his son- 
in-law ? 

A. He proposed it, but for the purpose of 



228 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

intrigue. He thought through his daughter's 
influence to destroy David. 

Q. Did the people continue to respect 
David? 

A. David acted with so much propriety in 
his intercourse with the people, that all 
Israel and Judah loved him. 

Q. Was Saul still bent upon taking his 
life? 

A. He spoke to Jonathan and all his ser- 
vants, requesting them to take the life of 
David. 

Q. Did Jonathan plead the cause of his 
beloved friend ? 

A. He reminded his father that in all 
things David had served him faithfully, and 
added, "Let not the king sin against his 
servant David." 

Q. Did David after this marry the daugh- 
ter of the king? 

A. Yes ; although, when Saul first proposed 
that he should marry his daughter, he re- 
plied, " Seemeth it to you to be a light thing 
to be a king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a 
poor man and am lightly esteemed;" yet 
when he discovered that Michal loved him, 
they were married. 

Q. Did Saul now change his purpose 
toward David ? 



DAVID ESCAPES. 229 

A. No ; but sent men to David's house to 
watch him by night, and to take his life in 
the morning. 

Q. Were they successful in carrying out 
their wicked design ? 

A. They failed to do so, — David's wife 
being made acquainted with their evil inten- 
tions, let him down through a window, and 
he escaped. 

Q. What did Michal say to the men when 
they came for her husband? 

A. She deceived them by putting an image 
in the bed, and placing " a pillow of goat's- 
hair for his bolster and covering it with a 
cloth ; M and when they came to take David, 
she said he was sick. 

Q. What became of David? 

A. He went to Samuel at Eamah, and told 
him all that had befallen him. 

Q. Did Saul pursue David ? 

A. He sent men in pursuit of him, but 
when they heard the prophets speaking, they 
remained with them. 

Q. Did he send others? 

A. Yes; to the third time; and when he 

found they all stayed, he went himself; and 

the spirit of prophesy fell upon him, and he 

tarried with Samuel all that day and all 

20 



230 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

that night, so that it was. said, " Is Saul also 
among the prophets ? " 

Q. Did David continue his flight? 

A. He fled from ]STaioth and came to Jona- 
than, and asked him what he had done, that 
his father should seek to take his life. 

Q. Was Jonathan able to tell him ? 

A. Jonathan s^id, "God forbid, thou shalt 
not die." He could not believe that his 
father wished to take David's life, and as- 
sured him that whatsoever his soul desired, 
he would do for him. 

Q. What did David request of Jonathan ? 

A. To discover whether his father was de- 
termined to take his life; and they agreed be- 
tween themselves how this should be effected. 
David was to absent himself for three days, 
when Jonathan should acquaint him with 
what he knew. 

Q. Was their plan carried out ? 

A. It was ; and Jonathan had to convey 
the sad intelligence to David, that his life 
was in danger. 

Q. Did he propose that David should go 
away ? 

A. They kissed one another, and wept 
with one another; and Jonathan said to 
David, Go in peace. 

Q. What course did David take ? 



AHIMELECH. 231 

A. He went to the priest Ahimelech, who 
was frightened to see David alone, but David 
made him believe that he was there on a 
secret embassy, and asked him what he had 
under his hand. 

Q. What had the priest under his hand? 

A. It was bread, and David said, Give 
me five loaves, or, what thou hast there. 

Q. Was the priest willing to do so ? 

A. He told David, that there was no com- 
mon bread there, but the bread under his 
hand was hallowed. 

Q. Did David get the hallowed bread? 

A. Yes; as the priest had none except 
the shew-bread, which had been removed 
from its usual place that day, to make room 
for the hot bre&d, he gave it to David. 

Q. Why was the bread called " sh ew-bread ? " 

A. Shew-bread was bread offered every 
Sabbath, to the Most High on the golden 
table which stood in the holy place. 

Q. Was it generally partaken of? 

A. It could not be lawfully eaten by any, 
except the priests. 

Q. Did Ahimelech hesitate to give it to 
David on that account? 

A. It is presumed that was the reason; but 
in David's necessity, he ate it without scruple. 

Q. What else did David inquire for ? 



232 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. He asked Ahimelech if he had not a 
spear or a sword. 

Q. Had the priest a sword ? 
A. He said the sword of the Philistine 
whom David slew was there, wrapped in a 
cloth behind the ephod ; if he would take 
that, he could have it. 

Q. Did David accept it ? 

A. He said, There is none like that ; give 
it to me 5 and David arose and fled for fear 
of Saul. 

Q. Where did David secrete himself from 
Saul? 

A. In the cave of Adullam. 

Q. Was he alone in this cave? 

A. No; every one that was in distress, 
every one that was in debt, and every one 
that was discontented, gathered around him, 
till there were about four hundred men. 

Q. Did David's family know where he 
was? 

A. David went to Mizpeh, to the king of 
Moab, and asked that his father and mother 
might be allowed to come to him. 

Q. Did the king grant this request ? 

A. He consented; and David's paients 
remained with him all the time he was in 
•this place of concealment. 



SAUL PURSUES DAVID. 233 

Q. Who advised David to go forth and 
remain no longer in the cave ? 

A, A prophet named Gad advised him to 
go into the land of Judah ; and David went 
into the forest of Hareth. 

Q. Did Saul hear of David and the people 
who were with him? 

A. Saul had been abiding with his spear 
in his hand; and when he heard of David, 
and the people who had connected them- 
selves with him, he asked those by whom he 
was surrounded, to consider whether the son 
of Jesse could make them captains over 
thousands, and over hundreds, and give them 
fields and vineyards. 

Q. Why did the king ask this question ? 

A. We may believe that he feared that 
these men would also unite with David ; and 
he wanted to remind them that he had it in 
his power to confer greater favors upon them 
than the " son of Jesse. " 

Q. Did he give any evidence that he sus- 
pected their fidelity ? 

A. He queried if Jonathan and they had 
not formed a league with David, and had 
concealed it from him. 

Q. Was Saul told that Ahimelech, the 
priest, had furnished David with bread and 
with the sword of Goliah ? 
20* 



234 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. He was given this information by an 
Edomite; and he at once sent for Ahimelech 
and those of his house, to appear before him. 

Q. Did he accuse them of conspiring with 
David against him ? 

A. Such was the accusation ; but Ahime- 
lech asserted their innocence, and asked, 
how they could suspect any wrong ; for 
who was so faithful among all Saul's servants 
as David; — he went at the king's bidding, 
and was honorable in all his house ; and, 
moreover, he was his son-in-law. 

Q. Was Saul's anger pacified? 

A. No. Saul ordered the footmen w T ho 
stood about him to slay the priests ; but the 
servants of the king would not put forth a 
hand against them. 

Q. To whom did Saul next apply ? 

A. To Doeg, the Edomite, who had first 
informed against Ahimelech, he said, Turn 
thou, and fall upon the priests. 

Q. Did Doeg obey him ? 

A. It is said that he slew on that day four- 
score and five persons who wore a linen 
ephod. 

Q. Did any of Ahimelech's family escape ? 

A. One son named Abiathar escaped, and 
came to David, who said to him, Eemain 
with me, and fear not, for he that seeketh 



Jonathan's friendship. 235 

thy life seeketh my life ; but with me thou 
shalt be safe. 

Q. Did David remain in the forest of Ha- 
reth? 

A. ~No ; David did not remain long in any 
place. Saul continued his opposition to him, 
and there arose factions of a serious char- 
acter. 

Q. Did Jonathan continue faithful to his 
friend David? 

A. Jonathan came to David in the wood, 
and encouraged him, saying, Fear not, for 
Saul my father shall not find thee. Thou 
shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next 
unto thee ; and that also Saul my father 
knoweth. 

Q. What did Saul direct should be done in 
order to find David ? 

A. He commanded those who were faithful 
to him to take knowledge of every lurking- 
place where David could hide; and to come 
and tell him, and he would pursue and search 
him out throughout all the thousands of 
Judah. 



CHAPTEK XII. 

SAUL IN THE CAYE — DAVID AND SAUL — 

DEATH OF SAMUEL THE CRUISE AND 

SPEAR SAUL'S DEATH ISHBOSHETH DA- 
VID RE ANOINTED KING — NATHAN — ME- 
PHISOBETH — ZIBA BATHSHEBA — SOLO- 
MON ABSALOM. 

Question, What turned Saul's attention 
from David ? 

Answer. The tidings that the Philistines 
had invaded the land. 

Q. Where did David now intrench him- 
self? 

A. In the strongholds of En-gedi. 

Q. After Saul returned from following the 
Philistines, was he told where David could 
be found? 

A. Some one informed him that David was 
in the wilderness of En-gedi, and he took 
three thousand chosen men out of Israel, and 
went to seek David and his men, " upon the 
rocks of the wild goats." 

Q. Did anything remarkable occur to Saul? 

A. He went into a cave to rest, and David 

(236) 



SAUL IN THE CAVE. 237 

and his men were "in the sides " of the same 
cave. Those who were with David told him 
that his enemy had been delivered into his 
hand, and he could do with him as he pleased. 

Q. Did David feel like avenging himself? 

A. He replied to his men, " God forbid 
that I should stretch forth my hand against 
Saul, seeing he is the Lord's anointed/' He 
arose, however, and cut off the skirt of the 
king's robe privately 

Q. Did he restrain his men from injuring 
Saul? 

A. He suffered them not to injure Saul. 

Q. Did Saul discover David while he was 
in the cave? 

A. He did not; but after Saul left the cave, 
David followed him, crying, My lord, the 
king; and when Saul heard him, he turned 
toward him. 

Q. What did David do? 

A. He stooped with his face to the earth, 
and queried with Saul, why he believed 
men when they said to him, "David seeketh 
thy hurt." 

Q. Did David tell him his life had been in 
his hand? 

A. He said to Saul, Some of my men bade 
me kill thee, but mine eye spared thee, and 
I said, I will not put forth mine hand against 
my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed. 



238 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Did he show Saul the skirt of the robe 
which he had cut off ? 

A. He showed it to him as an evidence, 
that there "was neither evil nor transgres- 
sion" with him, or he might have killed him; 
and queried, Why huntest thou my soul to 
take it? 

Q. What proverb did David quote ? 

A. " Wickedness proceedeth from the 
wicked/' but my hand said, David shall not 
be upon thee; but let the Lord be judge be- 
tween thee and me, and let Him see and 
plead my cause, and deliver me out of thy 
hand. 

Q. What was Saul's reply ? 

A. After David had finished speaking, Saul 
said, Is this thy voice, my son David ? and he 
wept aloud, and then added, Thou art more 
righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me 
good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 

Q. Did he allude to David's being made 
king? 

A. He said, I know well that thou shalt 
surely be king, and that the kingdom of Is- 
rael shall be established in thy hand. 

Q. What request did he make of David ? 

A. That he should not cut off his seed, nor 
destroy his name out of his father's house. 

Q. Did David promise that he would not ? 



DEATH OF SAMUEL. 239 

A. He made such a covenant with Saul; 
and Saul went home, and David returned to 
his hold. 

Q. What occurred in Israel about this time, 
which caused great lamentation ? 

A. Samuel the prophet died, and all Israel 
gathered to lament him, and they buried him 
in the city at Earn ah. 

Q. For what was the period in which Sam- 
uel lived, remarkable ? 

A. The commonwealth of Israel had been 
converted into a kingdom, and Samuel, the 
last of the Hebrew judges, had anointed two 
kings to rule over it. 

Q. Did Samuel institute schools for the 
prophets ? 

A. It is said that he first established schools 
for the education of the prophets. 

Q. What were the students of these schools 
called ? 

A. They were called "sons of prophets," 
and their teachers were styled " fathers." 

Q. Can you tell how the name of scribe 
originated? 

A. It was first given to such as excelled in 
the use of the pen, but it came in time to 
mean, learned men. 

Q. We have heard that David and Saul 



240 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

parted under a better feeling than had ex- 
isted between them; did this continue? 

A. ~No ; Saul was incited to again trouble 
David, and he followed him into the wilder- 
ness. 

Q. Did he meet with David there ? 

A. Saul and his men encamped for the 
night ; and as Saul was lying in a trench, 
with his men all around him, David and Abi- 
shai came up, and saw them. 

Q. Did Saul know that they were there ? 

A. No ; Saul did not see them. A deep 
sleep was over the camp, and David entered 
and took a cruise of water from near the 
bolster on which Saul rested, and also took 
his spear which he had stuck in the ground. 

Q. What did Abishai, the brother of Joab, 
wish David to suffer him to do ? 

A. To strike Saul with his own spear, say- 
ing, He would be sure not to strike twice. 

Q. What did David say to this proposition ? 

A. He said to Abishai, Destroy him not; 
for who can stretch forth his hand against 
the Lord's anointed and be guiltless ? 

Q. What did David and Abishai do with 
the spear and cruise of water? 

A. They hasted away without awaking 
any one, carrying their trophies with them. 

Q. How was Saul made acquainted with 
David's visit ? 



SAUL AND DAVID. 241 

A. It is written that David went over to 
the other side and stood on the top of a hill, 
a great space being between them, and called 
to Abner, who, it would seem, was Saul's 
body-guard or chief man. 

Q. What did David say to Abner? 

A. Art not thou a valiant man, and who is 
like to thee in Israel, and yet the thing is 
not good that thou hast done. You are 
worthy to die in that you have not kept 
your master, the Lord's anointed. 

Q. Did he show Abner the spear and the 
cruise of water ? 

A. He said, See where the king's spear and 
cruise of water are, that were at his bolster. 

Q. Did Saul recognize David's voice? 

A. He asked the question, Is this thy 
voice, my son David ? 

Q. Did David again ask Saul to no longer 
listen to those who were stirring him up 
against him ? 

A. He repeated the request that he had 
made when they before met; and said, What 
evil is in my hand that I should be pursued, 
as one doth hunt a partridge in the moun- 
tains ! 

Q. Did Saul again appear penitent ? 

A. Saul said, I have sinned ; return, my 
son David, for I will do thee no harm, be- 
21 



242 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

cause my soul was precious in thine eyes 
this day. 

Q. What did David ask of Saul ? 

A. He said, Behold the king's spear! let 
one of the young men come and fetch it ; and 
added, The Lord render to every man his 
righteousness and his faithfulness. 

Q. What was Saul's parting salutation? 

A. He said, Blessed be thou, my son David; 
thou shalt do great things, and shalt still 
prevail ! 

Q. What were David's feelings? 

A. David said in his heart, I shall perish 
one day by the hand of Saul; and there is 
nothing better left for me than that I should 
speedily escape into the land of the Philis- 
tines, and Saul shall despair and seek me no 
more in any coast of Israel ; so I shall escape 
out of his hand. 

Q. What became of Saul? 

A. He was at war with the Philistines, in 
which the Israelites were defeated ; his three 
sons were killed, and he himself was sorely 
wounded by the archers. 

Q. What did he request of his armor- 
bearer ? 

A. That he would take his sword and 
thrust him through, that he might not fall 
into the hands of the enemy, who might 
abuse him. 



DEaTH OF SAUL. 243 

Q. Was Saul slain by his armor-bearer ? 

A. No ; he would not do it ; so Saul, in the 
bitterness of his spirit, fell upon his own 
sword. 

Q. What was the effect upon his servant? 

A. When he perceived that Saul was dead, 
he likewise fell upon his sword and died with 
him. 

Q. Did David rejoice when he heard of 
the death of Saul? 

A. When it was told him, he rent his 
clothes, and so did the men who were with 
him ; and they mourned and wept for Saul, 
for Jonathan, and for those of the house of 
Israel who had fallen by the sword. 

Q. Who acquainted David with the sad 
calamity which had befallen the Israelites ? 

A. The third day after the battle a young 
man from the camp of Israel, came to David 
with his clothes rent and earth upon his 
head, and he told him all that had befallen 
Saul and Jonathan. 

Q. What w-as the language of lamentation 
used by David? 

JL This was the lamentation of David: 
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high 
places ; how are the mighty fallen ! Tell it 
not in Gath; publish it not in the streets of 
Askelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines 



244 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

rejoice; lest the daughters of the uneircum- 
cised triumph. 

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no 
dew, neither let there be rain upon you, nor 
fields of offerings; for there the shield of the 
mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of 
Saul, as though he had not been anointed 
w T ith oil. Saul and Jonathan were lovely 
and pleasant in their lives, and in their 
death they were not divided. They were 
swifter than eagles; they were stronger than 
lions. 

How are the mighty fallen in the midst 
of the battle ! O Jonathan, thou wast slain 
in thy high places ! 1 am distressed for 
thee, my brother Jonathan ; very pleasant 
hast thou been unto me ; thy love to me was 
wonderful, passing the love of women. 

Q. Was David at once acknowledged king 
of Israel ? 

A. Abner, the captain of Saul's host, pro- 
claimed Ish-bosheth, son of Saul, king over 
all Israel, but he reigned only two years. 
The house of Judah followed David. 

Q. Were the houses of David and Saul at 
peace with each other? 

A. No ; there was war between them ; 
but it is written that the house of David 



MOURNING FOR ABNER. 245 

waxed stronger and stronger, and the house 
of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. 

Q. Did Abner continue with the house of 
Saul? 

A. He did not; but said to Ish-bosheth, 
whom he had occasioned to be made king, 
that the kingdom was to be translated from 
the house of Saul, and that David's throne 
was to be set up over Israel and over Judah, 
from Dan even to Beersheba. 

Q. What occurred to Abner soon after 
this? 

A. Joab, who did not like Abner, and who 
may have been jealous of his power, called 
him aside, in the gate, to speak quietly with 
him, and took his life. 

Q. Did David cause the people to put on 
mourning for Abner? 

A. He told them to rend their clothes, 
and gird themselves with sackcloth; and 
David himself followed the bier. 

Q. Were the people gratified with David's 
manifestations of respect for Abner ? 

A. They were well pleased when they un- 
derstood that Abner was not slain by direc- 
tion of the king. 

Q. What did David say of Abner? 

A. The king said to his servants, Know ye 
not that there is a prince and a great man 
21* 



246 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

fallen this day in Israel ? and I am this day 
weak, though anointed king. 

Q. Did the tribes of Israel now gather 
round David ? 

A. All the tribes came, and said, We are 
thy bone and thy flesh ; even when Saul was 
king over us, thou leddest out and broughtest 
in Israel ; and the Lord said to thee, Thou 
shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt 
be a captain over Israel. 

Q. With whom did David make a league ? 

A. With the elders of Israel who came to 
him at Hebron he made a league, and they 
anointed David king over Israel. 

Q. What was David's age when he was 
made king? 

A. David was thirty years old when he 
began to reign. 

Q. Who built David a house in Jerusalem? 

A. Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers 
to David, and also sent cedar-trees and car- 
penters and masons, and they built him a 
house. 

Q. Plow many did David take with him to 
remove the ark of the covenant from the 
house of Abinadab to Jerusalem ? 

A. Thirty thousand chosen men ; and they 
set the ark of God upon a new cart, and 
David and all the house of Israel played be- 



THE ARK IS REMOVED. 247 

fore the Lord on all manner of instruments 
made of fir-wood. 

Q. By what was the cart drawn ? 

A. By oxen ; and on the way they shook 
the ark, and Uzzah put forth his hand and 
took hold of it, to steady it ; and it is 
written, because of this, God smote him for 
his error, and he died by the ark. 

Q. Should Uzzah lose his life for attempt- 
ing to steady the ark ? 

A. We frequently hear this circumstance 
brought into view to illustrate the impor- 
tance of guarding against an untempered 
zeal in relation to spiritual concerns. The 
ark is represented as sacred, and not to be 
touched with unhallowed hands, or without 
divine direction. 

Q. But do we hear of persons losing their 
lives by so doing ? 

A. If we are not watchful, and attempt to 
exercise our own judgment without reference 
to the divine will, we are in danger of losing 
our spiritual life. It is in this sense that the 
circumstance of Uzzah is quoted as a warn- 
ing. 

Q. Was the ark then taken to Jerusalem ? 

A. David was struck with fear, because of 
the death of Uzzah, and turned aside and 
left the ark at the house of Obed-edom. 



248 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. "What is said about the house of Obed- 
edom? 

A. That the ark remained in this house 
three months, and the Lord blessed Obed- 
edom and all his household. 

Q. When David heard that because of the 
ark they were thus blessed ; what did he do ? 

A. He took it from the house of Obed- 
edom, and brought it to the city of David 
with gladness. 

Q. Were the people rejoiced to have it in 
the city ? 

A. They brought it up with shouting and 
with the sound of the trumpet. 

Q. As David sat in his house resting from 
all his enemies, what presented to him to 
do? 

A. As he was thus sitting, he said to Na- 
than the prophet, See, now, I dwell in a house 
of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within 
curtains. 

Q. What was Nathan's answer? 

A. Go, do all that is in thine heart, for the 
Lord is with thee. 

Q. Had Nathan a vision that night? 

A. That night Nathan had a vision in 
which he was told to say to David that he 
should not build a house for the Lord. 

Q. Was anything more shown the prophet? 



SOLOMON. 249 

A. Yes ; he was also instructed to tell Da- 
vid that Solomon his son should build the 
house, and be established upon his throne, 
and that the divine blessing would rest upon 
Solomon. 

Q. What did David do in relation to the 
house which he proposed to build? 

A. The materials, of which he had pro- 
vided an abundance, he gave to Solomon, and 
requested him to add to them, and to erect 
a temple in which to place the ark and the 
holy vessels that were in the tabernacle. 

Q. Did David give directions about the 
building? 

A. He gave Solomon particular directions 
in regard to every part of it ; all of which he 
said, he had been made to understand by the 
hand of the Lord upon him. 

Q. Did he assure Solomon that he would 
be helped in building the temple ? 

A. His language was, Be strong and of 
good courage, and do it; fear not, nor be dis- 
mayed, for the Lord God, even my God, will 
be with thee; He will not fail thee until thou 
hast finished all the work for the service of 
the Lord. 

Q. Before whom did David acknowledge 
that he was not permitted to build the house ? 

A. He assembled all the princes and chiefs 



250 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

of his kingdom, and told them he had de- 
signed to build an house of rest for the ark 
of the covenant, and had made ready for the 
building, but he had been shown he should 
not build it. 

Q. Did he tell them why he could not ? 

A. He gave as a reason that the Lord had 
said to him, Thou shalt not build an house 
for my name, because thou hast been a man 
of war and hast shed blood. 

Q. Does not this prove that war and blood- 
shed are offensive in the divine sight ? 

A. It seems to do so very clearly, and to 
be in accordance with the Divine character 
as a God of Love. 

Q. Where, in the New Testament, can we 
find a text in which especial reference is 
made to the high and holy One as a God of 
Love ? 

A. In the epistle of John, 4th chapter and 
16th verse, we read: God is love, and he that 
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in 
him. 

Q. What did David exhort the people to 
do on this occasion? 

A. To seek and to keep the commandments 
of the Lord, that they might possess the good 
land, and leave it for an inheritance ftfr their 
children forever. 



ZIBA. 251 

Q. What advice did he give Solomon ? 

A. He said, Solomon, my son, know thou 
the God of thy father, and serve him with a 
perfect heart and with a willing mind, for 
the Lord searcheth all hearts, and under- 
stands all the imaginations of the thoughts. 
If thou seek him, He will be found of thee, 
but if thou forsake him, He will cast thee off 
forever. 

Q. In what way did David show his kind 
feeling for the house of Saul ? 

A. David inquired, Is there any left of the 
house of Saul, that I may show him kind- 
ness for Jonathan's sake ? 

Q. Was there any found? 

A. Ziba told the king, Jonathan has a son 
who is lame in his feet; and the king sent for 
him. 

Q. What did David propose to do for the 
son of his friend ? 

A. David told him that for his father's sake 
he would restore to him all the lands that 
were Saul's ; and that he should eat continu- 
ally at the king's table. 

Q. What did David do for Ziba ? 

A. He called for Ziba, and told him what 
he was going to do for Jonathan's son Me- 
phibosheth; and that he wanted him and his 
sons to till the land, and to bring in the 



252 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

fruits to his master's son ; but that his mas- 
ter's son must always eat at the king's table. 

Q. How many were in the household of 
Ziba? 

A. Fifteen sons and twenty servants, all of 
whom were servants to Mephibosheth. 

Q. In what way did Nathan bring a sin of 
David's before him? 

A. He spake by parable, and told bim that 
there were two men in one city. One was 
rich, and the other poor. The rich man had 
a great many flocks and herds, but the poor 
man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, 
which he had brought up and nourished ; it 
grew up together with him and his children. 
It ate of his own meat, and drank of his own 
cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him 
as a daughter. And there came a traveller 
unto the rich man, and he did not take of his 
own flock and of his own herd, but took the 
poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man 
that was come to him. 

Q. What did David think of this? 

A. His anger was greatly kindled, and he 
said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man 
that hath done this thing shall surely die; 
and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, be- 
cause he had no pity. 

Q. What did Nathan then say to David? 



NATHAN REPROVES DAVID. 253 

A. Nathan said to David, r< Thou art the 
man;" Thou hast been anointed king over 
Israel, and delivered from the hand of Saul, 
then wherefore hast thou despised the com- 
mandment of the Lord, and done evil in His 
sight ? 

Q. What was the evil alluded to, by Na- 
than? 

A. He had killed Uriah the Hittite, or 
had caused his life to be taken, in order that 
he might marry his widow. 

Q. What reply did David make? 

A. He said to Nathan, I have sinned against 
the Lord. 

Q. Of what did Nathan assure David? 

A. That the Lord had put away or for- 
given his sins, and that he should not die;, 
but that his son should surely die. 

Q. Was David distressed for the child? 

A. He besought God for it, and fasted and 
lay all night upon the earth; but on the 
seventh day the child died. 

Q. Did the servants fear to tell David the 
child was dead? 

A. They said, He would not hearken to us 
while the child was yet alive, how will he 
then be troubled if we tell him that he is 
dead; and they whispered among themselves- 
to know what to do. 
22 



254 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Did they tell David? 

A. When he saw them whispering, he per- 
ceived what had happened, and asked them 
if the child was dead ? 

Q. What did David do when he heard he 
was gone? 

A. He arose from the earth and washed 
himself, and changed his apparel, and came 
into the house of the Lord and worshipped; 
then he came to his own house, and when 
bread was set before him, he partook of it. 

Q. Did his servants marvel at him? 

A. They said to him, What thing is this 
'that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and 
weep for the child when it was alive, but 
when it was dead thou didst arise and eat 
bread. 

Q. Did David give his reason for so doing? 

A. He said, While the child was yet alive 
I fasted and wept, for who could tell whether 
God would be gracious, and the child might 
live; but now he is dead, wherefore should I 
fast.? can I bring him back again ? I shall go 
to him, but he shall not return to me. 

Q. What was the name of the child's 
mother? 

A. Bathsheba. 

Q. Was not she the mother of Solomon ? 

A. Yes; Solomon was also her son. 



THE HOUSE OF SAUL. 255 

Q. David had a son, Absalom; did he grieve 
his father? 

A. Absalom was an ambitious man, and 
he sought to estrange the hearts of the peo- 
ple from his father the king, and attach them 
to himself. 

Q. Was he successful? 

A. In great measure; so as to create sad 
trouble in the house of Israel. 

Q. Was David especially fond of his son 
Absalom? 

A. He was; and granted him many favors. 



CHAPTEE XIII. 

THE HOUSE OF SAUL — ABSALOM — DEATH OF 
ABSALOM — ZADOK AND ABIATHAR — SHEBA — 

FAMINE — ADONIJAH BATHSHEBA — NATHAN 

SOLOMON ANOINTED KING — DEATH OF 

DAVID. 

Question. Did the divisions in Israel arouse 
the ambition of another, who was not of 
David's household ? 



256 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Answer. Yes; Ziba came to David with 
asses laden with presents; and when the 
king asked him what it meant, he begged 
that he might find favor in his sight. 

Q. Did David remind him that he and all 
that he had belonged to Mephibosheth, 
Jonathan's son ? 

A. He did, and Ziba said, For that reason 
he had come out of Jerusalem ; for Mephi- 
bosheth had said, That to-day the house of 
Israel should restore to him the kingdom of 
his father. 

Q. Did the house of Saul give any further 
evidences of dissatisfaction? 

A. When David came to Bahurim, a man 
of the family of the house of Saul came out 
and stoned him and those who were with 
him. 

Q. Did others join this man ? 

A. There w T ere mighty men on his right 
hand and on his left, and David was accused 
of being a man of blood. 

Q. What did David say to those who 
would have punished this faction ? 

A. David said, If my son seek my life, how 
much more may this Benjamite do it; let 
him alone. 

Q. What noted prophet united with Absa- 
lom ? 



ABSALOM. 257 

A. Ahithophel, who professed to have in- 
quired at the oracle of God. 

Q. What did he advise Absalom to do ? 

A. To go out against his father while he 
was weak-handed and weary; and he said 
that all who were with him would flee, and 
he would strike the king only. 

Q. Did Absalom take his advice? 

A. He first called Hushai, to hear what he 
would say. 

Q. Did Hushai unite in judgment with 
Ahithophel? 

A. He told Absalom that the counsel was 
not good at that time, for, said he, Thou 
knowest thy father and his men are mighty 
men, and were chafed in mind as a bear 
robbed of her whelps, and thy father would 
not lodge with the people, but he is hid now 
in some pit. 

Q. What did Hushai propose that Absa- 
lom should do ? 

A. To gather all the people from Dan to 
Beersheba, and go in person against the king ; 
and Absalom liked this advice better than 
Ahithophel's, for he thought the latter might 
favor his father the king. 

Q. Did David know that Absalom was 
strengthening his forces? 

A. Two men were sent to inform him. 
22* 



258 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. What happened these men ? 

A. They were seen by their enemies, and 
took refuge in a well in a court near by. In 
order to conceal them, a woman put a cover- 
ing over the well's mouth, and spread ground 
corn upon it. 

Q. Were they discovered in their hiding- 
place ? 

A. No ; when those who sought them 
could not find them, they returned to Jeru- 
salem. 

Q. Was Ahithophel displeased that his 
counsel was not taken ? 

A. We are told, that, when he saw that it 
was not regarded, he hung himself. 

Q. What did David and those who were 
with him do, when they were told of what 
Absalom designed doing ? 

A. They crossed the river Jordan that 
night, and by the morning light there was 
not one left behind. 

Q. Did David purpose to go with them 
into the field ? 

A. He did, but they were not willing ; they 
said, Thou shaltnot go; if we flee away, it will 
not matter; neither if half of us die will we 
be cared for ; but thou art worth ten thousand 
of us; therefore it is better that thou succor 
us out of the city. 



DEATH OF ABSALOM. 259 

Q. Did David submit to this arrangement ? 

A. He told them he would do what seemed 
best to them ; but said to his chief men, Deal 
gently for my sake with the young man, even 
with Absalom; and all the people heard, 
when he gave the captains charge concern- 
ing Absalom. 

Q. What happened to Absalom ? 

A. Absalom rode upon a mule, and the 
mule went under the thick boughs of a great 
oak, and Absalom's hair caught hold of the 
oak, and he was suspended between heaven 
and earth, and the mule passed on. 

Q. Did any one see him ? 

A. A certain man saw him and went to 
tell Joab ) and Joab said, Why didst thou not 
smite him to the ground, and I would have 
given thee ten shekels of silver. 

Q. Did the man regret not doing it ? 

A. He said, Though I were to receive a 
thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet 
would I not put forth my hand against the 
king's son; for in our hearing the king 
charged us and his other captains, to beware 
that none touch the young man Absalom. 

Q. What did Joab say to this? 

A. "I may not tarry thus with thee ; and 
he took three darts in his hand and thrust 
them through the heart of Absalom as he 
hung from the oak." 



260 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. How were the people notified to return ? 

A. Joab blew a trumpet, and the peoj)le 
turned back from pursuing Israel. 

Q. What became of the body of Absalom? 

A. They cast it into a deep pit in the wood, 
and laid a great heap of stones upon it, and 
all Israel fled every one to his tent. 

Q. Who desired to go to the king and tell 
him what had happened ? 

A. Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok. said, Let 
me now run and bear the king tidings how 
that the Lord hath avenged him of his ene- 
mies. 

Q. Did he go at once ? 

A. Joab said, Not to-day; thou shalt bear 
the tidings another day \ go not to-day, as the 
king's son is dead. * 

Q. Was another messenger sent ? 

A. Cushi was sent by Joab, to go and tell 
the king what he had seen. 

Q. Did Ahimaaz insist upon running after 
Cushi ? 

A. He said to Joab, Let me, I pray thee, 
run after Cushi. Joab replied. Why wouldst 
thou run. seeing that thou hast no tidings 
ready ? but as Ahimaaz still urged it. he was 
told to run, and he went by the way of the 
plain and arrived before Cushi. 

Q. Was David upon the watch for the 
messenger? 



AHIMAAZ AND CUSHI. 261 

A. The king sat between the two gates, 
and a watchman went tip to the roof over 
the gate to look, and he saw a man running 
alone. 

Q. Did he tell the king that he saw a man 
coming? 

A. Yes ; and David said, If he be alone, he 
brings tidings. The man came so fast that 
he soon drew near. 

Q. Did the watchman discover another 
running ? 

A. He saw one coming, and called to the 
porter and told him, another man was run- 
ning alone ; and the king said, He also brings 
tidings. 

Q. Did the watchman know the men, as 
they came near him? 

A. He said, the first looked like Ahimaaz, 
the son of Zadok. The king remarked, He 
is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. 
Ahimaaz advanced, and said to the king, 
"All is well." 

Q. What question did David put to him ? 

A. Is the young man Absalom safe ? And 
he said, "When Joab sent thy servant, I saw 
a tumult, but I knew not what it was. 

Q. What did the king direct him to do? 

A. To turn aside and stand there; and he 
did so and stood still. 



262 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. What did Cushi say when he came? 

A. He said, Tidings, my lord the king,— 
for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of 
all them that rose up against thee. 

Q. Did David inquire of him concerning 
Absalom ? 

A. He inquired if the young man was 
safe ; and Cushi answered, Let all the ene- 
mies of my lord the king be as this young 
man. 

Q. Was the king moved by this answer ? 

A. He was deeply moved, and went up to 
the chamber over the gate and wept, — and 
as he went he said, O my son Absalom, my 
son, my son Absalom ! would God, I had 
died for thee ! O Absalom, my son, my son ! 

Q. Did the people sympathize with David 
in his affliction? 

A. The victory of that day was turned 
into mourning, because of the grief of the 
king. 

Q. How did the people who had joined 
with Absalom against his father, return to 
the city? 

A. It is said, they came in by stealth, as a 
people who are ashamed steal away when 
they flee from battle. 

Q. Did David continue to grieve for his 
son? 



MOURNING FOR ABSALOM. 263 

A. He covered his face, and cried with a 
loud voice, O my son Absalom ! O Absalom, 
my son, my son ! 

Q. Who reminded him of his duties as a 
king? 

A. Joab came into the king's house, and 
told him that his servants who had saved his 
life were dissatisfied, in that he manifested 
more love for his enemies than his friends. 

Q. What had David said, that induced his 
servants to think he did not care for them? 

A. David had declared, that he regarded 
neither princes nor servants ; and Joab said, 
they perceived that if Absalom had lived, 
and all of them had died, he would have 
been well pleased. 

Q. What did he tell David he ought to do? 

A. To arise and go forth, and speak com- 
fortably to his servants, for. if he did not, 
none would remain with him; and that would 
be worse than all the evil that had befallen 
him from his youth until now. 

Q. Did the king heed the counsel of Joab? 

A. He arose and sat in the gate; and when 
the people were told the king was sitting in 
the gate, they all came before him; "for 
Israel had fled, every man to his tent." 

Q. Were the different tribes of Israel anx- 
ious to manifest their allegiance to David? 



264 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. The people throughout all Israel were 
at strife, saying, Absalom whom we anointed 
king is dead; and inasmuch as the king de- 
livered us from the hand of the Philistines, 
why not have him brought back. 

Q. Were the men of Judah among those 
who were demanding the king's return? 

A. We suppose not, as David sent to Zadok 
and Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak ye 
unto the elders of Judah and say, Why are 
ye the last to bring the king back to his 
house; ye are my brethren, ye are my bones 
and my flesh, wherefore then are ye the last 
to bring back the king. 

Q. Did Judah listen to the priests? 

A. The heart of all Judah was bowed as 
the heart of one man, and they sent this 
word, "Keturn thou and all thy servants." 

Q. How were the king's household con- 
veyed across the river? 

A. In a ferry-boat; and after the king had 
crossed over Jordan, the son of Jonathan 
came down to meet him, without having his 
feet dressed, or his beard trimmed, or his 
clothes washed. 

Q. Did the king reprove him for having 
left him? 

A. He simply asked Mephibosheth why 
he went not with him. 



BARZILLAI. 265 

Q. What reason did he give? 

A. That he had been deceived by his ser- 
vant; that he would have saddled an ass, 
and gone after the king, but he was lame; he 
then recounted the kindness of David to him, 
as the son of Jonathan, even after the treat- 
ment the king had received from the house 
of Saul. 

Q. Did David give renewed tokens of his 
respect for the son of his friend? 

A. He said, Speak no more about the mat- 
ter; I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the 
land. 

Q. We read of Barzillai; who was he? 

A. He was an old man of fourscore } T ears, 
who provided sustenance for the king when 
he lay at Mahanaim, and David now wished 
him to go up with him to Jerusalem. 

Q. Did Barzillai go with the king? 

A. He said he would go with him a little 
way; but as he no longer had pleasure in 
eating or drinking, or in hearing the voice 
of singing men or women, he would there- 
fore be but a burden, and he would return to 
his own city, and be buried by his father 
and mother; and after he had gone a little 
way, the king blessed him, and he returned. 

Q. What was the nature of the trouble 
which next appeared in Israel ? 
23 



266 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. Sheba, of the tribe of Benjamin, said, 
We bave no part in David, neither have we 
inheritance in the son of Jesse ; and he blew 
a trumpet, and the men of Israel, except 
Judah, who clung to David, went after 
Sheba. 

Q. Who counselled with Joab as he was in 
pursuit of Sheba, and was battering the wall 
of the city of Abel ? 

A. It is recorded, a wise woman came out 
of the city and said to Joab, Come here, that 
I may speak to thee ; I am one of them that 
are peaceable and faithful in Israel ; thou 
seekest to destroy a city and a mother in 
Israel ; why wilt thou swallow up the inher- 
itance of the Lord ? 

Q. How did Joab excuse himself? 

A, He said, Far be it from me ; far be it 
from me that I should swallow up or destroy; 
but a man of Mount Ephraim, named Sheba, 
has lifted up his hand against the king, even 
against David ; deliver him, and I will de- 
part from the city. 

Q. What did the woman promise Joab? 

A. That his request should be granted, 
and that Sheba should no longer trouble 
them. 

Q. In what way did she effect this ? 

A. It is written that the woman went to 



FAMINE IN ISRAEL. 267 

the people in her wisdom, and they delivered 
Sheba into the hand of Joab ; after which 
Joab blew the trumpet, and they retired 
from the city, and every man went to his 
tent. 

Q. What next came upon Israel ? 

A. A famine of three years; but the his- 
tory merely mentions the fact, and attributes 
the visitation to the house of Saul. 

Q. Were the bones of Saul and Jonathan 
gathered and decently buried? 

A. David took them from the men who 
had stolen them, and he buried them in the 
country of Benjamin, in the sepulchre of 
Kish. 

Q. Did the Philistines again disturb the 
peace of David ? 

A. They made war against Israel, and 
David went down with his servants and 
fought against them. 

Q. Did David grow weary ? 

A. He became faint, and the men of David 
said unto him, Thou shalt go no more out 
with us to battle, that thou quench not the 
light of Israel. 

Q. Were there giants to contend with ? 

A. In this and the two battles which fol- 
lowed, there were four giants, the sons of the 



268 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

giant of Gath, and they were all slain by 
David and his servants. 

Q. When the garrison of the Philistines 
were in Bethlehem, what did David long 
for? 

A. A drink of the water out of the well of 
Bethlehem that was by the gate. 

Q. Who volunteered to get it for him ? 

A. Three mighty men broke through the 
host of the Philistines, and drew water from 
the well and brought it to David. 

Q. Did David enjoy this water? 

A. He would not drink it, but poured it 
out before the Lord, and said, Far belt from 
me to drink it; is it not the blood of the men 
who jeopardized their lives for it ? 

Q. After the king was very old, w T hich of 
bis. sons attempted to take the reins of gov- 
ernment in his own hands ? 

A. Adonijah exalted himself, saying, I will 
be king; and he had chariots and horsemen, 
and fifty men rode before him. 

Q. Did he confer with his father's coun- 
sellors ? 

A. He took counsel of Joab and Abiathar, 
but not with Zadok the priest, nor Nathan 
the prophet,jaeither did he confer with his 
brother Solomon. 

Q. Was Nathan concerned about it ? 



BATHSHEBA. 269 

A. The prophet was troubled, and sent 
Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, to the 
king to ask him if he did not say that Solo- 
mon was to be king, and was to possess the 
throne after him. 

Q. Did Bathsheba present the whole mat- 
ter before the king ? 

A. She went into the king's chamber and 
bowed herself before him. She then asked 
if he had not assured her that Solomon was 
to reign in his stead ? 

Q. Did she inform the king of what Adoni- 
jah was doing ? 

A. She told him how Adonijah had slain 
oxen, cattle, and sheep, and had invited Abi- 
athar the priest, and Joab the captain of the 
host, with all the king's sons, except Solo- 
mon. 

Q. Did she urge the importance of David's 
making public his wish concerning his suc- 
cessor to the throne ? 

A. She said to David, That all the people 
were looking upon him, expecting him to 
tell them who should reign in his stead, and 
if he should be gathered to his fathers with- 
out doing so, that she and her son Solomon 
would be counted offenders. 

Q. Who came in while she talked with the 
king? 

23* 



270 - BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. Nathan came, and after making obei- 
sance to the king, queried with him whether 
he had appointed Adonijah king after him ; 
for he had that day made a feast, or slain 
cattle in abundance, even as Bathsheba had 
told him; the prophet said, Hast thou so 
done, and not showed it to thy servant? 

Q. Did Bathsheba retire when the prophet 
entered ? 

A. She had gone out, and the king said, 
Call Bathsheba; he also desired the presence 
of Zadok the priest, and Benaiah. 

Q. What was the object of this council ? 

A. He said to them, Take with you the 
servants of your lord, and cause Solomon to 
ride upon my own mule, and take him down 
to Gihon; and let Zadok the priest, and Na- 
than the prophet, anoint him there, king 
over Israel : and blow ye with the trumpet, 
and say, God save the king. 

Q. What were they to do after Solomon 
was thus proclaimed king. 

A. They were to place him upon the throne ; 
for, said David, He shall be king in my stead; 
and I have appointed him to be ruler over 
Israel and over Judah. 

Q. Were the king's directions strictly fol- 
lowed ? 

A. Yes; they were carried out. Solomon 



SOLOMON ANOINTED KING. 271 

rode upon the mule of the king, and at Gihon, 
Zadok took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle 
and anointed him; when they blew the trum- 
pet, the people said, God save king Solomon. 

Q. Did the people give farther demonstra- 
tions of loyalty ? 

A. " The people followed Solomon and his 
train, piping with pipes and rejoicing with 
great joy, so that the earth rent with the 
sound of them." 

Q. Were Adonijah and his guests aware 
of what was going on ? 

A. When they heard the sound of the 
trumpet, they asked why the city was in an 
uproar, and were told that Solomon had been 
anointed king. 

Q. Were they alarmed for their own safety ? 

A. They arose and each man went his 
way, but Adonijah, fearing king Solomon, 
went and caught hold on the horns of the 
altar. 

Q. What did Solomon say when he was 
told that Adonijah, through fear of him, was 
holding fast to the horns of the altar ? 

A. Solomon said, If he will show himself 
a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him 
fall to the earth ; but if wickedness be found 
in him, he shall die. 

Q. Did Solomon send for Adonijah? 



272 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. He sent and brought him down from 
the altar, and Adonijah bowed himself to 
king Solomon ; and the king said, Go to thine 
house. 

Q. Was David conscious that he had not 
long to live ? 

A. He said to Solomon, I go the way of all 
the earth; be thou strong, therefore, and 
show thyself a man, and keep the charge of 
the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to 
keep His statutes and His commandments, 
His judgments and His testimonies, as written 
in the law of Closes, that thou mayest pros- 
per in all thou doest, and whithersoever thou 
turnest thyself. 

Q. Did David give his son charges con- 
cerning his faithful friends ? 

A. He bade him be kind to the sons of 
Barzillai, and let them be of those who ate 
at his table ; for they came to him when he 
had to flee because of his son Absalom. 

Q. How long did David reign over Israel? 

A. Forty years ; seven years he reigned 
in Hebron, and thirty-three in Jerusalem; 
when he died and was buried in the city of 
David. 

Remarks. — TTe have followed David through 
many of the vicissitudes of his eventful life, 



DAVID. 273 

bat have not entered minutely into the san- 
guinary conflicts in which he was engaged, 
and which occasioned him so much disquiet 
and trouble. In the period in which he lived 
it appears to have been common to refer the 
settlement of difficulties to the edge of the 
sword, — a practice not to be imitated by a peo- 
ple professing to be Christians, or the follow- 
ers of him who so impressively taught the im- 
portance of loving our enemies — doing good 
to those who hate or persecute us, that we may 
" be the children of our Father in heaven." 

If, in the perusal of David's history, we 
make a spiritual application of the difficul- 
ties which encompassed him, and the enemies 
with which he had to contend, we shall dis- 
cover there is teaching in it, and in this way 
it is rendered valuable. 

Throughout David's life there seems to 
have been a deep religious sentiment which 
occasioned him when guilty of wrong-doing, 
to humble himself as in the dust, and to seek 
divine forgiveness. 

Some of his psalms exhibit sublime con- 
ceptions of Jehovah as the Creator. Pre- 
server, and Governor of the Universe, and 
present a child-like resignation and an un- 
wavering faith and confidence in Him. 

Between seventy and eighty of the psalms 



274 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

contained in the book of Psalms are ascribed to 
David. Many of those of later date were prob- 
ably by the persecuted prophets, and others 
in the time of the kings; some from those in 
exile, and others later still, containing refer- 
ences to their captivity. The ninetieth psalm 
is attributed to Moses; twelve are ascribed 
to Asaph; eleven to the sons of Korah ; two 
to Solomon, and one to each of the singers 
Heman and Ethan. Those which are anony- 
mous were probably written after David's, 
and are in imitation of his style and manner. 
Luther, in his preface to the Psalter, says : 
" Where canst thou find nobler words of joy 
than in the Psalms of praise and thanksgiv- 
ing? Thou mayst there look into the hearts 
of all good men as into pleasant and beautiful 
gardens, where are to be found springing up 
every kind of pleasing and rejoicing thoughts 
towards God and His goodness." 



CHAPTEE XIV. 

A HYMN OF THANKSGIVING SPOKEN BY DA- 
VID AFTER HIS DELIVERANCE FROM HIS 
ENEMIES AND FROM THE HAND OF SAUL. 

The Lord is my rock and my fortress, 
and my deliverer, the God of my rock ; in 
Him will I trust ; He is my shield and the 
horn of my salvation, my high tower and my 
refuge, my Saviour, Thou savest me from 
violence. I will call upon the Lord, who is 
worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved 
from mine enemies. 

When the waves of death compassed me 
about, the snares of death prevented me; in 
my distress, I called upon the Lord, and 
cried to my God; and he did hear my voice 
out of His temple, and my cry did enter into 
His ears. Then the earth shook and trem- 
bled ; the foundations of heaven moved and 
shook, because of His wrath. There went 
up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out 
of his mouth devoured ; coals were kindled 
by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came 
dow x n f and darkness was under His feet. And 

(275) 



276 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

He rode upon a cherub, and did fly : and He 
was seen upon the wings of the wind. He 
made darkness pavilions round about Him, 
dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. 

Through the brightness before Him were 
coals of fire kindled. The Lord thundered 
from heaven, and the Most High uttered His 
voice. And He sent out arrows, and scat- 
tered them; lightning, and discomfited them. 
And the channels of the sea appeared; the 
foundations of the world were discovered at 
the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the 
breath of His nostrils. 

He sent from above. He took me; He 
drew me out of many waters ; He delivered 
me from my strong enemy, and from them 
that hated me ; for they were too strong for 
me. They prevented me in the day of my 
calamity; but the Lord was my stay. He 
brought me forth also into a large place; He 
delivered me, because He delighted in me. 
The Lord rewarded me according to my 
righteousness; according to the cleanness of 
my hands hath he recompensed me. For I 
have kept the ways of the Lord, and have 
not wickedly departed from my God. For 
all His judgments were before me; and as 
for His statutes, I did not depart from them. 

I was also upright before Him, and have 



HYMN OF THANKSGIVING. 277 

kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore 
the Lord hath recompensed me according to 
my righteousness, according to my cleanness 
in his eye-sight. With the merciful Thou 
wilt show thyself merciful, and with the up- 
right man Thou wilt show Thyself upright. 
With the pure Thou wilt show Thyself pure ; 
and with the froward Thou wilt show Thy- 
self unsavory. 

And the afflicted people Thou wilt save; 
but Thine eyes are upon the haughty, that 
Thou mayst bring them down. For Thou 
art my lamp, O Lord : and the Lord will 
lighten my darkness. For by Thee I have 
run through a troop; by my God have I 
leaped over a wall. As for God, His way is 
perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: He is 
a buckler to all them that trust in Him. 

For who is God, save the Lord? and who 
is a rock, save our God ? 

God is my strength and power. He mak- 
eth my way perfect. He maketh my feet 
like hinds' feet; and setteth me upon my 
high places. He teacheth my hands to war: 
so that a bow of steel is broken by mine 
arm. Thou hast also given me the shield of 
Thy salvation ; and thy gentleness hath made 
me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps 
under me, so that my feet did not slip. I 
24 



278 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed 
them, and turned not again until I had con- 
sumed them. And I have consumed them, 
and wounded them, that they could not arise; 
yea, they are fallen under my feet. For 
Thou hast girded me with strength to battle; 
them that rose up against me, hast Thou 
subdued under me. Thou hast also given 
me the necks of mine enemies, that I might 
destroy them that hate me. They looked, 
but there was none to save, even unto the 
Lord, — but He answered them not. 

Then did I beat them as small as the dust 
of the earth ; I did stamp them as the mire 
of the street, and did spread them abroad. 
Thou hast delivered me from the strivings 
of my people ; Thou hast kept me to be head 
of the heathen; a people I know not shall 
serve me. Strangers shall submit themselves 
unto me; as soon as they hear, they shall be 
obedient unto me. Strangers shall fade away, 
and they shall be afraid out of their close 
places. The Lord liveth, and blessed be my 
Eock, and exalted be the God of the Eock of 
my salvation. 

It is God that avengeth me, and that bring- 
eth down the people under me, and that 
bringeth me forth from mine enemies. Thou 
hast also lifted me up on high above them 



SOLOMON. 279 

that rose up against me. Thou hast delivered 
me from the violent man. 

Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, O 
Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing 
praises unto Thy name. 

He is the tower of salvation for His king, 
and showeth mercy to his anointed, unto 
David, and to his seed for evermore. 



CHAPTEE XV. 

solomon — the two mothers — hiram, king 
of tyre — the temple — vessels of gold 

— dedication of the temple — queen of 
sheba throne of solomon jeroboam 

— Solomon's death. 

Question. After the kingdom was estab- 
lished in the hand of Solomon, did he walk 
in the statutes of his father ? 

Answer. It is said that Solomon loved the 
Lord, and walked in his father's statutes. 

Q. Where did he go to sacrifice? 

A. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice; 
for that was the great high place. 



280 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. What is the signification of Gibeon? 

A. A hill, or cup ; or, that which is lifted 
up. 

Q. What befel Solomon at Gibeon ? 

A. He had a dream, in which he thought 
God asked him what He should give him. 

Q. What did Solomon request should be 
given him ? 

A. He alluded to the gracious dealings of 
the Most High with his father, and said, now 
that he was made king, he felt as a little 
child, and unable to rule Israel, a mighty 
people that could not be numbered; he there- 
fore asked for an understanding heart, and 
for judgment to discern between good and 
bad ; for who, said he, is able to judge this 
great people ? 

Q. Was this request approved ? 

A. Yes ; it is written that because Solomon 
had not asked long life, nor riches for him- 
self, neither the life of his enemies, but had 
asked understanding and discernment, he 
should receive in accordance with his wishes. 

Q. What beside understanding was given 
Solomon? 

A. The language is, Lo, I have given thee 
a wise and understanding heart; so that 
there was none like thee before thee; neither 
after thee shall any arise like unto thee. 



THE TWO MOTHERS. 281 

And I have also given thee what thou hast 
not asked — both riches and honor, — so that 
there shall not be any among the kings like 
unto thee, all thy days. 

Q. Was he reminded of the example of his 
father David ? 

A. Yes; and the promise was, that if he 
would walk in the ways of the Lord, and 
keep his statutes and commandments as his 
father David had walked, that he should be 
given length of days. 

Q. Did Solomon accept this dream as a 
prophecy or vision ? 

A. We may judge so, — as he returned to 
Jerusalem, and offered burnt-offerings and 
peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his 
servants. 

Q. What circumstance is narrated, in 
which Solomon's superior wisdom was mani- 
fested ? 

A. Two women came to Solomon, each 
claiming the same child, and wished him to 
decide to which of them it belonged. 

Q. How could the same child be claimed 
by two women ? 

A. The women lived in the same house, 

and had children near the same age. In the 

night one of the children died, and she with 

whom, the dead child was found, accused the 

24* 



282 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

other with taking her child and putting in 
his place the lifeless child. 

Q. What means did the king adopt to dis- 
cover the true mother? 

A. He asked for a sword, and said, Divide 
the living child in two, and give half to the 
one and half to the other. 

Q. Would the women consent to so cruel 
an act ? 

A. One of them whose heart yearned for 
her son, said, my lord, give her the living 
child, and in no wise slay it; but the other 
said, Let it be neither thine nor mine, but 
divide it. 

Q. What was Solomon's decision? 

A. He commanded that it should be given 
to the first, saying, In no wise slay it; she is 
the mother. 

Q. Did the people marvel at his wisdom? 

A. When Israel heard of the judgment of 
the king, they feared him, for they saw that 
the wisdom of God was with him. 

Q. What is said of Solomon's provisions 
for one day ? 

A. That they amounted to thirty measures 
of fine flour, and threescore measures of 
meal, ten fat oxen and twenty oxen out of 
the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside 
harts, and roebucks, and fallow deer, and 
fattened fowl. 



WEALTH OF SOLOMON. 283 

Q. Did peace reign throughout his domin- 
ion ? 

A. " He had peace on all sides round about 
him; from Dan even to Beersheba, every 
man dwelt in safety under his vine and un- 
deshis fig-tree, throughout the days of Solo- 
mon/' 

Q. How many horses had Solomon ? 

A. He had forty thousand stalls of horses 
for his chariots, and twelve thousand horse- 
men. 

Q. Who provided for all the king's horses 
and dromedaries, for he had dromedaries 
too? 

A. Officers were appointed to furnish all 
with food from the king's table, and they 
lacked nothing. 

Q. Were various proofs given of Solomon's 
wisdom? 

A. Yes ; and it was said to excel the wis- 
dom of the East, and also of Egypt, for he 
was wiser than all men. He is reported to 
have spoken three thousand proverbs, and 
his songs to have amounted to one thousand 
and five. 

Q. Was he an admirer of Nature ? 

A. " He spake of trees, from the cedar-tree 
that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that 
spraigeth out of the wall; he spake also of 



284 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

beasts and of fowl, and of creeping things, 
and of fishes." 

Q, What king manifested his respect for 
Solomon, by sending his servants to him ? 

A. Hiram, king of Tyre, when he heard 
Solomon was anointed king, sent his Ser- 
vants to him, for he ever loved David. 

Q. What subject of especial interest did 
Solomon introduce to Hiram ? 

A. The building of the house which his 
father David could not build, because of the 
wars which were about him on every side. 
But he being at rest, with "no adversary nor 
evil occurrence 1 ' to disturb him, purposed 
now to build it, and told Hiram. 

Q. What did he ask of the king of Tyre? 

A. That the king's servants should aid his 
servants in hewing cedar-trees in Lebanon; 
for, said he, thou knowest that there is not 
among us any that can hew with the skill 
of the Sidonians. 

Q. Was Hiram willing to lend assistance 
in getting timber ? 

A. When he heard the proposition of 
Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, 
Blessed be the Lord this day who has given 
unto David a wise son over this great people • 
and he sent word to Solomon that he would 



THE TEMPLE. 285 

do all that he desired concerning the timber 
of cedar and of fir. 

Q, In what manner did he propose to get 
the timber to Jerusalem ? 

A. He said that his servants should bring 
it from Lebanon to the sea, and it should be 
floated down by the sea to any place that 
Solomon might appoint, and that in return 
Hiram should receive food for his household. 

Q. How much did Solomon give Hiram 
yearly ? 

A. He gave him twenty thousand meas- 
ures of wheat for his household, and twenty 
measures of pure oil, year by year; and 
Hiram gave Solomon as much cedar and 
fir as he desired. 

Q. Did Solomon and Hiram proceed with 
the w^ork harmoniously? 

A. There was peace between them, and it 
is said they made a league, which means 
agreement or covenant. 

Q. Were there many workmen employed ? 

A. Solomon made a levy of thirty thousand 
men, and sent them to Lebanon ten thousand 
at a time. 

Q. Had he other workmen ? 

A. He had seventy thousand who bore 
burdens, and eighty thousand hewers in the 
mountains. 



286 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. How many officers were appointed to 
oversee the work? 

A. There were thirty-three thousand who 
attended to the workmen. 

Q. Did they get stone as well as wood ? 

A. The workmen brought great and costly 
stones, and Solomon's builders and Hiram's 
builders hewed and squared them. 

Q. How long had Solomon been king, 
when he commenced to build the house ? 

A. It was in the fourth year of Solomon's 
reign, and four hundred and eight years after 
the children of Israel left Egypt. 

Q. Was this house or temple very magnifi- 
cent ? 

A. More grand and beautiful than we can 
here describe, but a particular account of it 
may be found in the sixth chapter of the 
first Kings. 

Q. What is said of the manner in which it 
was builded? 

A. That " there was neither hammer nor 
axe, nor any tool of iron heard in the house 
while it was building, for it was built of 
stone made ready before it was brought 
thither." 

Q. Did he make a place in the temple for 
the ark of the covenant ? 

A. He prepared a place for the ark, and 
called it the Oracle. 



VESSELS OF GOLD. 287 

Q. Of what was the partition before the 
Oracle made ? 

A. It was made of chains of gold, and the 
Oracle and the Altar and House within, was 
overlaid with pure gold. 

Q, Who was it that Solomon brought from 
Tyre, to work in metal ? 

A. Hiram, the son of a widow of the tribe 
of Naphtali, whose father was a man of Tyre, 
and a worker in brass. 

Q. Was he remarkably ingenious? 

A. "He was filled with wisdom and un- 
derstanding and cunning, to work all works 
of brass/' 

Q. Of what were the vessels made, which 
were designed for the temple ? 

A. They were made of gold. There were 
five candlesticks on the right hand, and five 
on the left, of pure gold ; before the Oracle 
were flowers and lamps and tongs of gold ; 
and the bowls, the snuffers, the basins, and 
spoons and censers, were of pure gold. 

Q. What did Solomon do with the vessels 
which his father had dedicated? 

A. He brought them and put them among 
the treasures of the house which he had 
built. 

Q. Did Solomon dedicate this house to the 
Lord? 



288 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. He gathered all the elders of Israel, 
with the heads of the tribes, and had them 
bring up the Ark of the Covenant out of the 
city of David, and also the holy vessels; and 
they sacrificed before the Ark so many sheep 
and oxen, that it is said they could not bb 
numbered; and then the priests brought th*> 
Ark and placed it in the Oracle of the houst>. 
which was esteemed the most holy place. 

Q. Did the priests minister upon this ot 
casion ? 

A. After they had deposited the Ark in ita 
place, the cloud filled the house, so that the 
priests could not stand to minister before 
the cloud ; the glory of the Lord had filled 
the temple. 

Q. Did Solomon speak when the people 
were gathered ? 

A. He blessed the house as in the presence 
of the great I AM; and he asked that all 
who made supplication before the Lord in 
that house, might be blessed. For an ac- 
count of the dedication of this temple, read 
the eighth chapter of first Kings. In a 
spiritual sense it may be regarded as a beau- 
tiful figure of "the temple which the Lord 
hath pitched, and not man." 

Q. How long was Solomon in building the 
temple? 



QUEEN OF SHEBA. 289 

A. He was seven years in building the 
temple, and thirteen years in building his 
own house. 

Q. Was Solomon reminded again in a 
dream, of the necessity of walking in obe- 
dience to the divine law? 

A. It is written that the Lord appeared to 
Solomon the second time as at Gibeon, and 
said, His supplication had been heard, and 
the house had been hallowed which he had 
built to the name of the Lord, and if he 
would walk before Him in uprightness and 
integrity, that he should be established upon, 
the throne of Israel. 

Q. Who heard of Solomon's wisdom, and! 
came to prove him with hard questions? 

A. The Queen of Sheba heard of the fame* 
of Solomon, of the temple, and of his wisdom,, 
and came to prove him with hard questions. 

Q. Did she come alone? 

A. No- she came to Jerusalem with a very 
great train ; with camels bearing spices, and* 
a great deal of gold, and many precious stones ;:; 
and when she came she talked with Solomon 
of all that was in her heart. 

Q. Could the king answer her questions? 

A. He answered them all; there was noth- 
ing hid from Solomon that he could not telL 
her. 

25 



290 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. What did she think of all that she heard 
and saw? 

A. After hearing Solomon and seeing the 
house which he had built, and all the grandeur 
by which he was surrounded, she told the 
king, that the report she had heard in her 
own country was true. 

$, Had she not believed the report ? 

A. She had not believed what she had 
heard ; but when she had seen for herself, she 
found the half had not been told her, — and 
she said to Solomon, Thy wisdom and thy 
prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. 
Happy are thy men, happy are these thy 
servants which stand continually before thee, 
and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the 
Lord thy God w T hich delighteth in thee to 
set thee on the throne of Israel. 

Q. Did she tell Solomon why he had been 
made king over Israel ? 

A. Yes:; she said, "Because the Lord 
loved Israel forever, therefore made he Solo- 
mon king to do judgment and justice." 

Q. Did she make presents to the king? 

A. She gave him a hundred and twenty 
talents of gold and a very great store of 
precious stones and spices; no presents to 
the king equalled in abundance those given 
by the queen of Sh^eba. 



THRONE OF SOLOMON. 291 

Q. Was Solomon equally generous to the 
queen ? 

A. He gave her all she desired and asked 
for, beside that which he presented of his 
royal bounty; after which she and her ser- 
vants returned to their own country. 

Q. What kind of throne did Solomon 
make? 

A. He made a great throne of ivory, and 
overlaid it with the best gold ; it had six 
steps, and a lion was placed on each end of 
every step, and two lions beside the seat. 
There was no throne like it in any kingdom. 

Q. Of what were his drinking-vessels 
made ? 

A. "Of gold; and all the vessels of the 
forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none 
were of silver." 

Q. What was brought by the navy of Solo- 
mon from Tarshish once in three years ? 

A. It brought to Solomon gold and silver, 
ivory, apes, and peacocks. 

Q. Did Solomon's riches exceed that of 
other kings? 

A. Solomon exceeded all the kings of the 
earth for riches and for wisdom ; and all the 
earth it was said sought him to hear the 
wisdom which God had put in his heart. 

Q. Did those w^ho came to him bring him 
presents? 



292 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. Every man brought his present, — vessels 
of silver and vessels of gold, and garments 
and armor, spices, horses and mules; a rate 
year by year was brought to the king. 

Q. Did Solomon, as he advanced in life, 
continue to regard the commandments given 
him by the Lord ? 

A. When Solomon grew old, his wives 
turned his heart after other gods, and he did 
not do right in the sight of the Lord. 

Q. Was he rebuked for his disobedience? 

A. Twice the Lord appeared unto Solo- 
mon, and bade him not to go after other 
gods., but Solomon obeyed not. 

Q. What was the consequence ? 

A. Part of his kingdom was taken from 
him, and he was beset with enemies. 

Q. To whom was the kingdom given ? 

A. To Jeroboam, a young man of valor, 
whom Solomon had placed over the house 
of Joseph. 

Q. In what way was Jeroboam made ac- 
quainted with his new position ? 

A. He went out of Jerusalem, and was 
met by the prophet Ahijah, who caught 
Jeroboam's garment, which was new, and he 
rent it in twelve pieces, and gave ten pieces 
to Jeroboam, and told him that the Lord 



JEROBOAM. 293 

would rend the kingdom out of Solomon's 
hand, and would give him ten tribes. 

Q. Was the reason given why Solomon's 
son should not inherit the throne? 

A. Yes; because Solomon and his house 
had forsaken the Lord, and worshipped Ash- 
toreth ; they walked not in the ways of the 
Lord, and kept not his statutes and judg- 
ments as did David. 

Q. Why was a portion of the kingdom to 
remain under Solomon's government ? 

A. It was said, I will give him one tribe, 
that David my servant may have a light 
always before me in Jerusalem, the city in 
which I have chosen to put my name. 

Q. Was a promise made to Jeroboam that 
he should prosper ? 

A. He was given a conditional promise, 
that, if he would be faithful to the divine 
commandments, the Lord would be with him, 
and build him a sure house, as He had built 
for David and Israel. 

Q. Did enmity exist between Solomon and 
Jeroboam ? 

A. It did ; and Jeroboam fled into Egypt, 
and remained there until after the death of 
Solomon. 

Q. How long did Solomon reign in Jeru- 
salem ? 

25* 



294 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. For forty years he reigned in Jerusalem 
over all Israel. 

Q. Where was he buried ? 

A. When Solomon " slept with his fathers," 
he was buried in the city of David. 

Q. What do the writings of Solomon in- 
clude ? 

A. They are generally understood to in- 
clude the books of Proverbs. Ecclesiastes, and 
Canticles, though it is by no means certain 
that he was the author of them all. 

Q. Why is the book called bi The Proverbs" 
so named ? 

A. Because it is a collection of sayings 
which contain a great deal of wisdom in a 
few words. Though it is not likely Solomon 
composed them all, he may have compiled 
them in their present form. 

Q. What does " Ecclesiastes " mean? 

A. Literally, it means — the preacher, or 
one who addresses an assembly. The object 
of this book seems to be to teach the vanity 
of all things, and to show that the only true 
wisdom consists in fearing God and keeping 
His commandments. 

Q. Is the book of Canticles known by an- 
other name ? 

A. It is also called the Song of Songs. It 
is thought by some to be an allegorical poem. 



DANIEL. 295 

founded on the spiritual relation which ex- 
ists between the Universal Father and His 
Church. 



CHAPTEE XVI. 

DANIEL THE PROPHET. 

DANIEL — NEBUCHADNEZZAR — HANANIAH 

MISHAEL — AZARIAH — THE CAPTIVES' FOOD 

THE KING'S DREAM INTERPRETATION 

DANIEL HIS THREE FRIENDS — THE KING'S 

DECREE — FIERY -FURNACE DELIVERANCE 

ANOTHER DREAM BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST 

HIS DREAM DANIEL INTERPRETS IT 

DANIEL PROMOTED BELSHAZZAR'S DEATH 

DARIUS — DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN 

HIS ESCAPE — CYRUS. 

Daniel, called Belteshazzar by the Chal- 
deans, was a prophet, descended from the 
royal family of David. He was carried cap- 
tive to Babylon when very young, and was 
chosen with his three companions, Hananiah, 
Mishael, and Azariah, to reside at Nebuchad- 
nezzar's court, where he received an educa- 



296 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

tion in all the sciences of the Chaldeans ; but 
he declined to eat of the provisions from the 
king's table. He afterwards became greatly 
distinguished by interpreting the dreams of 
Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, for which 
he was promoted to a high office. The 
Book of Daniel relates his history, and we 
will refer to that for a further account of 
him. 

Question. Who was king of Judah at tho 
time Jerusalem was besieged, and Daniel, 
with others, was taken captive ? 

Answer. Jehoiakim was king of Judah, 
when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, 
besieged Jerusalem. 

Q. Did the king of Babylon disturb the 
vessels of the temple built by Solomon ? 

A. He took part of them into the land of 
Shinar, and deposited them in the treasure- 
house of his god. 

Q. In what way was Daniel introduced to 
Nebuchadnezzar's notice ? 

A. The king requested that some of the 
children of Israel, " who were princes, and 
in whom there was no blemish, but who were 
well-favored, cunning in knowledge, skilful 
in wisdom, and who understood science, and 
who had ability to stand in the king's pal- 
ace, should be taught the learning and the 



DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS. 297 

tongue of the Chaldeans ; " and Daniel was 
one of those selected for this purpose. 

Q. Who, besides Daniel, are mentioned as 
having been chosen ? 

A. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 

Q. What were the names given these 
princes by the Chaldeans? 

A. Daniel was called Belteshazzar • to 
Hananiah was given the name of Shadrach ; 
to Mishael that of Meshach • and to Azariah, 
Abednego. 

Q. Were provisions apportioned to these 
men by the king? 

A. Yes ; daily they were to be provided 
with the king's meat, and with such wine as 
he drank, in order that they might in three 
years stand before him. 

Q. Was Daniel willing to partake of this 
food? 

A. Daniel resolved that he would not eat 
of the meat, nor drink of the wine from the 
king's table. 

Q. What reason did he give for his refusal. 

A. He felt that it was not suitable food for 
him, and to use his own words, he " would 
not defile himself" by partaking of it, and 
requested the prince, under whose care they 
were placed, to excuse him from eating the 
meat and drinking the wine. 



298 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Was the prince willing to do so ? 

A. The prince loved Daniel, and might 
have been willing, but he said, that he feared, 
if the king saw Daniel and his friends look 
worse than the rest, that it would endanger 
his own head. 

Q. With what did Daniel propose they 
should be furnished, instead of the king's 
food? 

A. He said, Prove thy servants, I beseech 
thee, ten days, and give us pulse to eat and 
water to drink, and then judge of our coun- 
tenances and the countenances of those who 
eat the portion of the king; and as thou 
seest, deal with thy servants. 

Q. Was Daniel's wish complied with ? 

A. Yes, with favorable results ; at the end 
of ten days, a they were fairer and fatter in 
flesh," than those who ate meat and drank 
wine; so Melzar, the prince, continued to 
feed them upon pulse. 

Q. What is pulse ? 

A. It is a kind of bean, which grows in 
pods like peas. 

Q. Did these four children increase in wis- 
dom and knowledge? 

A. It is written, God gave them knowl- 
edge and skill in all learning and wisdom; 
and Daniel had understanding in all visions 
and dreams. 



THE king's dream. 299 

Q. When the time came in which they 
were to be presented to the king, was he 
satisfied with them ? 

A. At the time specified by the king, they 
were brought before him, and he conversed 
with them, and acknowledged that among 
them all, none were found like Daniel, Hana- 
niah, Mishael, and Azariah, and they " stood 
before the king." 

Q. In matters of wisdom and understand- 
ing, what was said of them ? 

A. When the king inquired of them in 
matters of wisdom and understanding, he 
found them "ten times better" than all the 
magicians and astrologers of his own realm. 

Q. Was Daniel's wisdom put to the test 
after this ? 

A. Yes ; the king had a dream, which 
" went from him," or which he could not re- 
member, and he called upon the wise men, 
the astrologers and the Chaldeans, to tell 
him his dream, for it troubled him. 

Q. Could they tell the king what he had 
dreamed ? 

A. They could not, but they told him if he 
would tell his dream, they would give the 
interpretation of it y but that there was no 
man upon earth, that could tell him what he 
had dreamed. 



300 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Did the king still insist upon their 
doing so ? 

A. He told them, if they did not tell him 
his dream, and give him the interpretation 
of it, they should be put to death. 

Q. What did they do in this extremity? 

A. They said it was a rare thing that the 
king required, and that none other save the 
gods whose dwelling is not in flesh, could do 
it; and they would have to submit to the 
mandate of the king. 

Q. What was the decree of the king re- 
specting the wise men ? 

A. That they should be slain ; and Daniel 
and his companions were sought in order to 
take their lives also. 

Q. What did Daniel say to the king's cap- 
tain, when he was informed of the decree of 
the king? 

A. He asked why it was. to be executed in 
so much haste. Then Arioch told him all 
about the inability of the wise men to satisfy 
the king. 

Q. Did Daniel request that the judgment 
should be deferred ? 

A. He went to the king, and told him, if 
he would give him time, he would tell him 
his dream, and would interpret it. 

Q. What course did Daniel pursue ? 



THE DREAM REVEALED. 301 

A. He went to his companions, Hananiah, 
Mishael, and Azariah, and proposed that they 
should ask the mercies of God concerning 
this secret, so that he and they might not 
perish with the rest of the wise men of 
Babylon. 

Q. Were their prayers heard and an- 
swered ? 

A. It is said, that the secret was revealed 
to Daniel in a vision of the night; and then 
Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 
. Q. How did Daniel express his gratitude? 

A. " Blessed be the name of God forever 
and ever, for wisdom and might are his. He 
changeth the times and the seasons. He re- 
mo veth kings, and setteth up kings. He 
giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge 
to them that know understanding. He re- 
vealeth the deep and secret things; He 
knoweth what is in the darkness, and the 
light dwelleth with Him. I thank Thee, and 
praise Thee, O Thou God of my fathers, who 
hast given me wisdom and might, and hast 
made known unto me now what we desired 
of Thee; for Thou hast now made known 
unto us the king's matter." 

Q. Did Daniel ask Arioch, the captain, to 
present him to the king? 

A. He went to Arioch, and desired him 
26 



302 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

to present him to the king, for he was pre- 
pared to give an interpretation of his dream. 

Q. In what manner did Arioch present 
Daniel? 

A. He brought Daniel in haste to the king, 
and said, I have found a man of the captives 
of Judah, that will make known unto the 
king the interpretation of the dream. 

Q. What did Nebuchadnezzar say unto 
Daniel ? 

A. He said, Art thou able to make known 
unto me the dream which I have seen, and 
the interpretation thereof? 

Q. What was Daniel's answer ? 

A. He answered, The secret which the 
king hath demanded, cannot be shown him 
by the magicians, astrologers, and soothsay- 
ers; but there is a God in heaven who reveals 
secrets, and who will make known unto 
Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter 
days. 

Q. Did Daniel then repeat the dream and 
the interpretation ? 

A. He first told the king that this secret 
was not revealed to him because of the wis- 
dom he might have more than others, but 
for the sake of those who should make known 
the interpretation, and that the king might 
know the thoughts of his own heart. 



INTERPRETATION. 803 

Q. What was the dream, as given by Dan- 
iel? 

A. Daniel said, Thou, O king, beheldst a 
great image. This great image, whose bright- 
ness was excellent, stood before thee, and 
the form thereof was terrible. 

Q. Did Daniel describe the image? 

A. He said, this image's head was of fine 
gold, his arms of silver, his thighs of brass, 
his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part 
of clay. 

Q. What befel this image ? 

A. He told the "king that he had seen a 
stone that was cut without hands smite the 
feet of the image, and brake them to pieces. 

Q. What became of the metal of which the 
image was formed? 

A. " The iron, the clay, the brass, the sil- 
ver and gold were broken to pieces, and be- 
came like the chaff of the summer threshing- 
floors, and the wind carried them away, and 
no place was found for them." 

Q. What is said of the stone that smote 
the image ? 

A. That it became a great mountain, and 
filled the whole earth. 

Q. What was the interpretation ? 

A. That Nebuchadnezzar was a king of 
kings, and that his kingdom was one of 



304 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

strength, power, and glory; that he had been 
made ruler over men, the beasts of the field, 
and fowls of the air; and that the golden 
head was he. 

Q. What did the brass signify ? 

A. Other kingdoms were to rise inferior 
to X ebuehadnezzar's kingdom, and the third 
kingdom was of brass, which should bear 
rule. 

Q. What was the fourth kingdom ? 

A. This was to be "as strong as iron, — as 
iron breaketh in pieces and subdue*th all 
things." 

Q. What did the feet, which were of iron 
and clay, represent ? 

A. A kingdom that should be divided ; 
there should be in it the strength of iron, 
but it being partly of clay, it should be 
broken. 

Q. What was said of the mixture of iron 
and clay ? 

A. Daniel said, Whereas thou sawest iron 
mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle with 
men; but they shall not cleave one to another, 
even as iron is not mixed with clay. 

Q. Was there another kingdom to be set 
up? 

A. Yes ; a kingdom which should never be 
destroyed; and the kingdom should not be 



DANIEL PROMOTED. 305 

left to other people, but it should break in 
pieces and consume all other kingdoms, and 
it should stand forever. 

Q. "What was the nature of this kingdom 
shown to be. 

A. It had an allusion no doubt to a spirit- 
ual kingdom. The stone cut out of the 
mountain without hands represents Christ, 
the wisdom and power of God. His king- 
dom should break in pieces the kingdoms of 
this world, or the wisdom and power of men, 
and the spiritual kingdom would stand for- 
ever, it being in its nature eternal. 

Q. What effect had the recital of Nebu- 
chadnezzar's dream and the interpretation of 
it upon him ? 

A. The king fell upon his face and wor- 
shipped Daniel, and commanded that an 
oblation and sweet odors should be offered 
him. He said to Daniel, Of a truth it is 
that your God is a God of gods and a Lord 
of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing 
thou couldst reveal this secret. 

Q. In what position did the king place 
Daniel ? 

A. He made of him a great man ; he gave 
him a great many gifts, and appointed him 
ruler over the whole province of Babylon, 
26* 



306 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

and chief of the governors over all the wise 
men of Babylon. 

Q. "Were offices given to Shadrach, Me- 
shach, and Abednego ? 

A. Daniel requested that they might be 
placed over the affairs of the province of 
Babylon; and Daniel sat in the gate of the 
king. 

Q. Why should Daniel sit in the gate? 

A. We have elsewhere said that " the 
gate" in ancient times was the seat of jus- 
tice, and a place where all important matters 
were disposed of; and Daniel may have sat 
there as judge and ruler. 

Q. Did anything occur which closely tried 
the faith of the children of Judah ? 

A. Nebuchadnezzar caused to be made an 
enormous golden image, which he had placed 
in the plain of Dura, in the province of 
Babylon. 

Q. How did this image affect the Jews ? 

A. The king required that at the sound of 
music which he caused to be given on various 
instruments at certain periods, all men of 
whatever people, nation, or language, should 
fall down and worship the golden image 
which he had set up. 

Q. What was the penalty, if they did not 
obey this command ? 



FIERY FURNACE. 307 

A. They were to be cast into the midst of 
a burning fiery furnace. 

Q. Was Nebuchadnezzar told that there 
were those who did not worship the golden 
image ? 

A. Certain Chaldeans came to him and 
told him that the Jews whom he had set 
over the affairs of the province, Shadrach, 
Meshach, and Abednego, did not regard him. 
They served not his gods, nor worshipped 
the image he had set up. 

Q. Did this enrage the king? 

A. It is written, that in his rage and his 
fury he commanded the men to be brought 
before him, and said, Is it true, O Shadrach, 
Meshach, and Abednego, that ye do not serve 
my gods and worship the golden image. 

Q. What did he threaten should be done 
with them if they would not obey him ? 

A. He told them, that if they would fall 
down at the sound of the musical instru- 
ments, it was well ; and if not, they should be 
cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 

Q. What was the reply of these three 
men ? 

A. They said, O Nebuchadnezzar ! we are 
not anxious about this matter. If it be so, 
our God whom we serve is able to deliver us 
from the burning fiery furnace, and He will 



308 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

deliver us out of thy hand, O king! — but if 
not, be it known unto thee, that we will not 
serve thy gods nor worship the golden image 
which thou hast set up. 

Q. What was the commandment of the 
king in relation to Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abednego? 

A. He was very angry, and his countenance 
changed towards them, and he directed that 
the furnace should be heated seven times 
more than it was wont to be heated. 

Q. Whom did he require should throw these 
men into the furnace? 

A. He caused the most mighty men that 
were in his army to bind them in their 
coats, their hose, their hats, and other gar- 
ments, and cast them into the blazing fur- 
nace. 

Q. What effect had the heat upon these 
mighty and strong men, who were chosen to 
perform this dreadful act? 

A. The furnace being exceedingly hot, 
the flame of the fire slew them. 

Q. What became of Shadrach, Meshach, 
and Abednego? 

A. They fell bound into the midst of the 
fire. 

Q. Was Nebuchadnezzar a witness of what 
he had occasioned to be done. 



DELIVERANCE. 309 

A. He was there, and said to his counsel- 
lors, Did we not cast three men bound into 
the midst of the fire? and they said, "True, 
O king!" 

Q. "Why did the king ask this question ? 

A. He said, Lo ! I see four men loose 
walking in the midst of the fire, and they 
have no hurt ; and the form of the fourth is 
like the son of God. 

Q. What was the next act of the king? 

A. He drew near the mouth of the fur- 
nace, and called to Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abednego, saying, Ye servants of the most 
high God, come forth and come hither ! 

Q. Were they able to come forth ? 

A. It is said they came out of the midst 
of the fire ; and the princes, governors, cap- 
tains, and counsellors being gathered to- 
gether, saw that the fire had no power over 
these men ; that not an hair of their head 
was singed, neither were their coats changed, 
nor was the smell of fire upon them. 

Q. What are we to understand by the 
wonderful deliverance here related? 

A. That the power of the Most High is 
above every power, and that it is able to de- 
liver from dangers of the most threatening 
character, and from trials which may justly 



310 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

be compared to a furnace heated seven times 
hotter than it was wont to be heated. 

Q. Will faith in this power enable others, 
as it did these three good men, to resist an 
unrighteous law, even though by doing so 
their natural lives may be in danger? 

A. By a perfect trust and faith in this 
Almighty power, its all-sufficiency for every 
emergency will be proved. 

Q. What may we understand by Nebu- 
chadnezzar seeing four men loose in the fur- 
nace ? 

A. We read that the fourth was in the 
form of the Son of God. In a spiritual sense 
there is no difficulty in comprehending this. 
These men were thrown into the furnace 
bound, but by the power which preserved 
them from the fire they were loosened, and 
this power was no other than the Son of God. 

Q. Their hair was not singed, nor their 
coats burned, neither was the smell of the 
fire upon them ; has this an especial significa- 
tion? 

A. We understand it to teach that those 
whose trust and confidence are perfect, will 
be preserved in every way ; and that they 
will be brought through afflictions and trials 
wholly unharmed. 

Q. What could the king say, after this dis« 
play of divine power? 



baniel's friends promoted. 311 

A. He said, Blessed be the God of Sha- 
drach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent 
His angel and delivered his servants who 
trusted in Him, and who changed the king's 
word and preserved their bodies, that they 
might not worship any God, except their own 
God. 

Q. Did he change his decree ? 

A. He said, I make a decree that every 
people, nation, and language, which says 
anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, 
Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut to 
pieces, because there is no other God that 
can deliver after this sort. 

Q. Were these men promoted by the king ? 

A. The king promoted them in the prov- 
ince of Babylon. 

Q. What was the acknowledgment of 
Nebuchadnezzar in relation to the divine 
government after this? 

A. He addressed himself to all people, and 
said, Peace be multiplied unto you. I 
thought it good to show the signs and won- 
ders that the high God hath wrought towards 
me. How great are His signs! and how 
mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an 
everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is 
from generation to generation ! 



312 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Nebuchadnezzar dreamed the second 
time; did he call upon Daniel to interpret it? 

A. His dream troubled him, and he gath- 
ered the magicians, astrologers, and sooth- 
sayers to interpret it, but they could not do 
it ; and then he called Daniel. 

Q. What reason did he give for telling his 
dream to Daniel? 

A. He said to Daniel, Because I know that 
the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no 
secret troubles thee, tell me the visions of 
my dream, and the interpretation thereof. 

Q. What was this vision ? 

A, He thought he saw a tree in the midst 
of the earth, of very great height, and it 
grew and was strong, and the height reached 
to heaven, and the sight thereof to the end 
of all the earth. 

Q. Did this tree bear fruit? 

A. The fruit was abundant, and it was 
meat for all; the leaves were fair, and the 
beasts of the field had shadow under it, and 
the fowls of the air dwelt in its branches. 

Q. What was to be done to this tree ? 

A. The king beheld, in the vision, a watcher 
and an holy one come down from heaven, 
and He cried aloud and said, Hew down the 
tree, cut off the branches, shake off the leaves, 



ANOTHER DREAM. 313 

and scatter the fruit ; let the beasts get away 
from under it and the fowls from its branches. 

Q. What was said about the stump of the 
tree? 

A. It was said, Leave the stump of its 
roots in the earth, even with a band of iron 
and brass, in the tender grass of the field, 
and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, 
and let his portion be with the beasts in the 
grass of the earth. 

Q. What change was to take place in the 
heart? 

A. It is written, Let his heart be changed 
from man's, and let a beast's heart be given 
unto him, and let seven times pass over him. 

Q. Was the cause of this change specified? 

A. Yes; " To the intent that the living 
may know that the Most High ruleth in the 
kingdoms of men, and giveth to whomsoever 
He will." 

Q. After Nebuchadnezzar had repeated 
this dream to Daniel, what did he request of 
him? 

A. That he should interpret it; for, said 
he, All the wise men of my kingdom were 
unable ; but thou art able, for the spirit of 
the holy gods is in thee. 

Q. Did Daniel at once perceive the signi- 
fication of the dream? 
27 



314 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

A. For an hour, it is said, Daniel was 
troubled ; and he then told the king that' the 
tree which he saw, of such gigantic propor- 
tions, was himself. He had grown and be- 
come strong; his greatness reached unto 
heaven, and his dominion to the end of the 
earth. 

Q. What did the hewing down of the tree 
signify ? 

A. Daniel interpreted it to mean, that the 
king should be driven from men, and his 
dwelling should be with the beasts of the 
field, and he should eat grass as oxen, and 
be wet with the dew of heaven ; arid seven 
times, or seven years, should pass over, 
until he should know that the Most High 
ruleth in the kingdoms of men. 

Q. Did he allude to the stump of the- tree, 
which was to be left ? 

A. Yes; the roots in the ground implied, 
that the kingdom should be sure unto Ne- 
buchadnezzar, after he should know that the 
heavens do rule. 

Q. Did Daniel offer counsel to the king? 

A. He said to Nebuchadnezzar, Let my 
counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break 
off thy sins by righteousness, and thine in* 
iquities by showing mercy to the poor; it 
may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. 



INTERPRETATION. 315 

Q. Did Daniel's interpretations come to 
pass? 

A. All these things came upon Nebuchad- 
nezzar. 

Q. What did he say of Babylon? 

A. At the end of twelve months, he walked 
in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon, 
and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I 
have built for the house of the kingdom, by 
the might of my power, and for the honor 
of my majesty ? 

Q. What did he hear while he was yet 
speaking? 

A. While the word was in the king's mouth, 
there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O 
king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: 
the kingdom is departed from thee; and 
they shall drive thee from men, and thy 
dwelling shall be with the beasts of the 
field ! 

Q. How soon was the prediction fulfilled ? 

A. The same hour the thing was fulfilled, 
and he was as the beasts of the field, till his 
hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and 
his nails like birds' claws. 

Q. After the time appointed, did Nebuchad- 
nezzar's reason return? 

A. At the end of the time specified, Ne- 
buchadnezzar lifted up his eyes unto heaven, 



316 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

and his understanding returned, and he 
blessed the Most High and praised and 
honored Him that liveth forever, Who doeth 
according to His will in the army of heaven 
and among the inhabitants of the earth, and 
none can stay his hand, or say unto Him, 
What doest Thou? 

Q. Was his kingdom restored to him ? 

A. The glory of his kingdom, his honor 
and brightness, were restored, and his coun- 
sellors and lords again sought him, and he 
was established in excellent majesty. 

Q. Did he give the praise to Him to whom 
it belonged ? 

A, He exclaimed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise 
and extol and honor the King of heaven, all 
of whose works are truth, and his ways 
judgment, and those that walk in pride He 
is able to abase ! 

Q. Who was the next king of Babylon 

A. Evil Murdock, son of Nebuchadnezzar. 

Q. What occurred at a feast given by 
Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon ? 

A. Belshazzar made a great feast to a 
thousand of his lords, and drank wine before 
them. He sent for the vessels which his 
father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the 
temple at Jerusalem, that his friends might 
drink out of the golden vessels. 



THE MYSTERIOUS HANDWRITING. 317 

Q. Did they drink wine out of these 
vessels ? 

A. " They drank wine, and praised the 
gods of gold and of silver, of brass, of iron, 
of wood, and of stone." 

Q. "What occurred at this feast which 
troubled the king ? 

A. It is written, that in the same horn 
came forth fingers of a man's hand, and 
wrote over against the candlestick upon the 
plaster of the wall of the king's palace, and 
the king saw the part of the hand that 
wrote. 

Q. What effect had this upon Belshazzar? 

A. His thoughts troubled him, " so that his 
joints were loose, and his knees smote one 
against another." 

Q. Upon whom did he call in the hour of 
trouble ? 

A. The king cried aloud, to bring in the 
astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the sooth- 
sayers. 

Q. What did he promise to him who could 
read the handwriting ? 

A. He said he should be clothed with scar- 
let, and have a gold chain about his neck, 
and he should be the third ruler in the king- 
dom. 

27* 



318 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

Q. Could those whom the king called in- 
terpret the writing? 

A. ]S"one of the wise men could read the 
writing, or give an interpretation to the king. 

Q. Did this increase the trouble of the 
king ? 

A. He was then greatly troubled; and his 
countenance was so changed that his lords 
were astonished. 

Q. Who came to comfort him ? 

A. The queen bade him not be troubled, 
and told him of what Daniel had done for his 
father. Xebuchadnezzar ; and she said, Xow, 
let him be called, and he will show the inter- 
pretation. 

Q. Was Daniel sent for ? 

A. Daniel was brought in before the king, 
who told him that he had heard of his wis- 
dom and understanding, and that he could 
make interpretations and dissolve doubts ; 
\nd if he could read the writing and interpret 
it, he would confer the honor upon him which 
he had promised to give to any one who could 
tell him what it foretold. 

Q. Did Daniel think he could interpret the 
writing? 

A. He said, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and 
give thy rewards to another ; yet, I will read 



belshazzar's death. 319 

the writing unto the king, and make known 
to him the interpretation. 

Q. What was the interpretation of the 
writing on the wall? 

A. It was to the effect that the king had 
been weighed in the balance and found want- 
ing, and the kingdom should be divided and 
given to the Medes and Persians. 

Q. To what office did Belshazzar appoint 
Daniel? 

A. He made him third ruler in the king- 
dom. 

Q. What happened the same night ? 

A. That night Belshazzar was slain. 

Q. Who succeeded Belshazzar as king of 
Babylon ? 

A, Darius, the Median, ascended the throne. 

Q. How many princes did Darius select ? 

A. He placed over the kingdom an hun- 
dred and twenty princes ; and over these 
were placed three presidents, of whom 
Daniel was the first. 

Q. Why was Daniel chosen first presi- 
dent? 

A. Because he possessed an excellent 
spirit, and no fault was found in him. 

Q, Did the other presidents and princes 
become jealous of Daniel? 

A. They envied Daniel his influence, but 



820 BIBLICAL HISTORY, 

said they could find no fault with him except 
concerning his God. 

Q. What did they devise in order to bring 
Daniel into displeasure with the king ? 

A. They proposed to establish a royal stat- 
ute, that whosoever should ask a petition foi 
thirty days, save of the king, should be cast 
into the den of lions. 

Q. Did the king approve this decree ? 

A. Yes; he approved the writing and 
signed the decree. 

Q. Did this deter Daniel from performing 
his daily worship as usual ? 

A. Daniel went into his house, and the 
windows being opened in his chamber to- 
ward Jerusalem, he kneeled three times a 
day and prayed, and gave thanks before his 
God, as usual. 

Q. Were Daniel's enemies waiting to re- 
port him to the king ? 

A. They came near to where Daniel was, 
and found him praying to his God, and then 
went to the king and asked him if he had 
not signed a decree that no man should ask 
a petition for thirty days, save of him ? 

Q. What was the king's answer ? 

A. The king said the thing was true, ac- 
cording to the law of the iledes and Persians 
which altereth not. 



DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN. 321 

Q. Did they then complain of Daniel? 

A. They said, that Daniel, of the children 
of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, 
O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, 
but makes his petition three times a day. 

Q. Did the king feel troubled when he 
heard this ? 

A. He was displeased and troubled, but 
still he labored to deliver Daniel till the 
going down of the sun. 

Q. Did those who accused Daniel, seek to 
establish his guilt ? 

A. They reminded the king, that, accord- 
ing to the laws of the Medes and Persians, 
no decree established by the king could be 
changed. 

Q. Did the king then send for Daniel? 

A. He had him brought and cast into the 
den of lions, but said, Thy God whom thou 
servest continually, will deliver thee. 

Q. What next was done ? 

A. A stone was brought and laid upon the 
mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with 
his signet and with the signet of his lords, 
that the purpose might not be changed con- 
cerning Daniel. 

Q. Did he arise early and go to see about 
Daniel ? 

A. He arose early, and went in haste unto 



322 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

the den, and cried with the voice of lamenta- 
tion, Daniel, O Daniel! servant of the living 
God; is thy God whom thou servest continu- 
ally, able to deliver thee from the lions? 

Q. Could Daniel answer the king? 

A. He said to him, O king, live forever ! 
my God hath sent His angel and hath shut 
the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt 
me. Forasmuch as innocency was found in 
me before Him; and to thee, O king, I have 
done no hurt. 

Q. Was the king pleased to find Daniel 
unhurt? 

A, He was exceedingly glad, and had 
Daniel removed at once, when he was found 
to be unhurt, because he believed in his God. 

Q. What became of the men who had 
plotted against Daniel? 

A. The king commanded that those who 
had accused Daniel should be thrown into 
the den of lions, and we read they were at 
once destroyed. 

Q. Does this account of Daniel convey 
spiritual instruction 

A. There is much in it to teach us the 
blessedness of loving the Lord our God with 
our whole heart, mind, and strength, that we 
may be prepared to serve and obey Him in 
whatever situation we may be placed. 



SPIRITUAL INTERPRETATION. 323 

Q. When Daniel heard of the king's decree, 
he went into his house; could we apply this 
figuratively ? 

A. This house may represent the temple 
of the Lord within us, into which we may 
retire in the time of trouble. 

Q, It says the windows were open towards 
Jerusalem; what idea would this convey ? 

A, Jerusalem is spoken of as a holy city, 
and the windows being open towards it, 
conveys an idea of an unobstructed view of 
the quiet habitation where the throne of 
heaven is established; and when kneeling or 
prostrating ourselves in view of this throne, 
we ma}^ pray or supplicate availingly. 

Q. Daniel was not hurt by the lions ; did 
he escape for the same reason that his com- 
panions Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 
were preserved from burning? 

A. For the very same reason that these, 
and other faithful servants of the Most High, 
have been rescued from peril. They" " that 
trust in the Lord shall not be confounded." 
" The fear of man bringeth a snare, but 
whoso putteth his trust in the Lord is safe." 

Q. The accusers, in both instances, were 
the greater sufferers; is this always the case? 

A, When any one attempts to injure the 
innocent, he is very likely to be the greater 



324 BIBLICAL HISTORY. 

sufferer of the two. To use a common figure. 
such often "fall into the pit which they have 
dug for others/ 1 

Q. Did king Darius make another decree? 

A. Yes ; he decreed that in every dominion 
of his kingdom men should tremble and fear 
before the God of Daniel; for he is a living 
God. and steadfast forever. 

Q. What did the king say of the power of 
the Great I AM ? 

A. That -He delivers and rescues; He 
works signs and wonders in heaven and in 
earth, even He who delivered Daniel from 
the den of the lions." 

Q. Did Daniel continue to prosper through 
the reign of Darius ? 

A. Daniel prospered not only through the 
reign of Darius the 3Iede, but lived to see 
Cyrus the Persian made king. 

Q. For what was Daniel remarkable after 
this ? 

A. Daniel had a number of visions pertain- 
ing to the Messiah and his kingdom, all 
tending to encourage a faith in the power of 
Jehovah, and to the end that those who are 
wise shall shine as the brightness of the fir- 
mament. and they that turn many to right- 
eousness as the stars forever and ever. 



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